Maori Life in Old Taranaki remains one of the most authoritative accounts of Maori customary practices and histories of the region, with over 30 chapters of material ranging over diverse subjects such as migratory canoe stories, fourteenth-century Maori chants, Maori fire lore, proverbs and sayings, waiata, Hauhauism, the origins of place names and indepth coverage of the armed conflict that rent Taranaki asunder during the nineteenth century. Originally published in 1965, copies of Houston's book have been highly sought after for the past two decades. This re-release of his invaluable and insightful commentary on traditional Maori life and the interaction with Pakeha in Taranaki is now available for a new generation.