Blood and Dirt: Prison Labour and the Making of New Zealand by Jared Davidson

A DigitalNZ Story by Bridget Williams Books

Blood and Dirt explains, for the first time, the making of New Zealand and its Pacific empire through the prism of prison labour. (Bridget Williams Books, 2023)

Image: Marine Parade, Napier

Marine Parade, Napier

MTG Hawke's Bay

Image: Terrace Gaol, Wellington

Terrace Gaol, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Unnamed prisoner

Unnamed prisoner

Nelson Provincial Museum

Image: Oihi Bay, Bay of Islands

Oihi Bay, Bay of Islands

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: Lyttleton

Lyttleton

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Rattray Street, Dunedin in 1864. From the album: Early Dunedin, Meluish - Burton - Muir & Moodie

Rattray Street, Dunedin in 1864. From the album: Early Dunedin, Meluish - Burton - Muir & Moodie

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Lambton Quay, Wellington

Lambton Quay, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Convicts at work [Dunedin]

Convicts at work [Dunedin]

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Adelaide Road, Wellington

Adelaide Road, Wellington

MTG Hawke's Bay

Image: High St, Dunedin

High St, Dunedin

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Rocks Road The Basin Low Tide

Rocks Road The Basin Low Tide

Nelson Provincial Museum

Image: Climbing to the top, Rangitoto Island, 1930

Climbing to the top, Rangitoto Island, 1930

Auckland Libraries

Image: Rotoaira Prison for First World War objectors (Camp 2), 1918

Rotoaira Prison for First World War objectors (Camp 2), 1918

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: Waikune Prison Camp, Ruapehu district, 1925

Waikune Prison Camp, Ruapehu district, 1925

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Mount Eden Jail, 1876

Mount Eden Jail, 1876

Auckland Libraries

Image: Cat O' Nine Tails

Cat O' Nine Tails

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Fort Britomart, Auckland

Fort Britomart, Auckland

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: The Gaol Dunedin [Bell Hill Dunedin]

The Gaol Dunedin [Bell Hill Dunedin]

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: The hard labour gang from Lyttelton Prison quarrying stone from a cliff past the Gas-works, probably late 1870s.

The hard labour gang from Lyttelton Prison quarrying stone from a cliff past the Gas-works, probably late 1870s.

Te Ūaka The Lyttelton Museum

Image: Construction of the marble block of the Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Construction of the marble block of the Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Breakwater, New Plymouth

Breakwater, New Plymouth

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Creator unknown : Photograph of Lyttelton Harbour

Creator unknown : Photograph of Lyttelton Harbour

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Mt Eden, Auckland

Mt Eden, Auckland

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Mount Cook Prison and buildings on Buckle Street, Wellington

Mount Cook Prison and buildings on Buckle Street, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: The female division of the Mount Eden gaol

The female division of the Mount Eden gaol

Auckland Libraries

Image: [North Head]

[North Head]

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: View of the Devonport side of North Head.

View of the Devonport side of North Head.

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Pai Mārire Prisoners, 1865

Pai Mārire Prisoners, 1865

MTG Hawke's Bay

Image: Maori prisoners, members of the Hauhau church, under guard on board a prison hulk in Wellington Harbour

Maori prisoners, members of the Hauhau church, under guard on board a prison hulk in Wellington Harbour

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Return of the ploughman prisoners, Parihaka

Return of the ploughman prisoners, Parihaka

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Rifle shooting

Rifle shooting

Waitaki District Council

Image: Aerial view showing Devonport, North Head...1925

Aerial view showing Devonport, North Head...1925

Auckland Libraries

Image: Gun emplacement at Fort Ballance, Wellington

Gun emplacement at Fort Ballance, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fort Ballance, Scorching Bay, Wellington

Fort Ballance, Scorching Bay, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Timber stacked in sawmill yard

Timber stacked in sawmill yard

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Off duty at Waiotapu prison camp

Off duty at Waiotapu prison camp

Auckland Libraries

Image: Photo. of the prison camp, Waiotapu

Photo. of the prison camp, Waiotapu

Auckland Libraries

Image: Te Huinga - Mud Volcano - Wai-o-tapu Valley

Te Huinga - Mud Volcano - Wai-o-tapu Valley

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: NZ State Forest Service - Kaingaroa Forest: circa 1908 Waiotapu prison camp

NZ State Forest Service - Kaingaroa Forest: circa 1908 Waiotapu prison camp

The Fletcher Trust

Image: NZ State Forest Service - Kaingaroa Forest: 1923 Planting seedlings

NZ State Forest Service - Kaingaroa Forest: 1923 Planting seedlings

The Fletcher Trust

Image: Adenochilus gracilis growing under 68 year old western yellow pine, Hanmer Forest

Adenochilus gracilis growing under 68 year old western yellow pine, Hanmer Forest

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Scene in Avarua, Rarotonga. From the album: Cook Islands

Scene in Avarua, Rarotonga. From the album: Cook Islands

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Villagers at Mauke, Cook Islands, 1903

Villagers at Mauke, Cook Islands, 1903

Auckland Libraries

Image: Tapping rubber trees in Samoa

Tapping rubber trees in Samoa

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Native prisoners cutting grass, Mulinu'u Samoa. From the album: Skerman family album

Native prisoners cutting grass, Mulinu'u Samoa. From the album: Skerman family album

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Jail in Apia, Samoa

Jail in Apia, Samoa

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Copra plantation. From the album: Samoa

Copra plantation. From the album: Samoa

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: WESTERN SAMOA: Aerial view of Copra Mill

WESTERN SAMOA: Aerial view of Copra Mill

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: Pastoral view of Hautu Prison farm

Pastoral view of Hautu Prison farm

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Maker unknown :Ceremonial trowel used at the opening of Waikeria Reformatory Prison, 24th November 1911

Maker unknown :Ceremonial trowel used at the opening of Waikeria Reformatory Prison, 24th November 1911

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Newbould, Frank, 1887-1951 :A New Zealand dairy farm. R.C.H.5. Issued by the Empire Marketing Board. Printed for H.M. Stationery Office by St Michael's Press Ltd, West Norwood, S.E. 27 [ca 1927]

Newbould, Frank, 1887-1951 :A New Zealand dairy farm. R.C.H.5. Issued by the Empire Marketing Board. Printed for H.M. Stationery Office by St Micha...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Hawera, Taranaki

Hawera, Taranaki

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: Hautu Farm. Tokaanu, New Zealand. No. 137.C

Hautu Farm. Tokaanu, New Zealand. No. 137.C

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Prison farm at Waikeria, 1919

Prison farm at Waikeria, 1919

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Arthur River, Milford Sound, looking up from boat landing

Arthur River, Milford Sound, looking up from boat landing

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago