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Pre European
Māori economy was based on gift exchange and bartering. Resources such as forests were depleted, and some species became extinct, for example moa. -
European Arrival
Europeans brought a money economy, and Māori quickly began to produce goods for trade. At first Māori trade thrived, but as fertile land was lost people no longer produced goods for sale. -
Early European Trade
New Zealand’s first European economy was based on sealing and whaling, and timber. There were gold rushes and people also exported kauri gum. These were all products which eventually ran out, but while they made money they helped to establish towns and transport.