Prior to European arrival in New Zealand, fishing was a significant component of Māori subsistence. The abundant fish stocks provided a rich and readily available resource, with methods of procuring fish based on careful observations of generations of fishers. Supplemented by shellfish and birds, the fish stocks were sufficient to provide adequate food supplies, except when seasonal periods of adverse weather prevented harvesting. Māori fished efficiently and sustainably utilizing nets (some over a mile long), traps, pots, spears, and lures, as well as hooks made of wood, bone, shell or stone that were as effective as any modern steel hook. The surplus catch was prepared and stored for later consumption. In the late 1700s, European sealers and whalers traded with Māori, often using metal tools as barter. The superiority of metal for working implements soon became apparent to Māori, who rapidly discarded their traditional tools. By the late 19th century these tools were less evident; however, artefacts were being made by both Māori and Europeans to meet the demand from tourists and collectors. Changes in Māori lifestyles associated with the increasing availability of European agricultural cultivars and domestic animals, as well as urbanization, led to a decline in Māori fishing activity. Another impact of colonization was the loss of indigenous knowledge (mātauranga) surrounding fish-hook design and use. Present-day interpretation of traditional tools including the rotating Māori fishhook design has influenced the custom of wearing hei matau (stylized fish-hooks) as personal adornment. In 1840 the Treaty of Waitangi guaranteed Māori the full exclusive and undisturbed possession of their fisheries. In 1877, Chief Justice Prendergast ruled that the Treaty of Waitangi was "a simple nullity" and that those Māori proprietary rights confirmed in the Treaty were unenforceable against the Crown in New Zealand courts. Establishment of the Waitangi Tribunal in 1975 and recognition of the Treaty as part of New Zealand law in 1988 opened the way for redressing Māori grievances. Māori culture was, and continues to be, dynamic. Māori fishing did not cease when traditional fishing gear was discarded. The development of deregulated commercial fishing in New Zealand waters in the 19th and 20th centuries resulted in a dramatic decline in fish numbers, distribution ranges and sizes. Increased competition for a diminishing resource ensued among commercial, recreational and customary fishers. Te Matau a Māui (Māui's fish-hook) describes traditional Māori fish-hooks and fishing, the development of commercial fisheries and the impact on conservation and management of New Zealand's fisheries resources since European settlement and the Treaty of Waitangi.

The humble fish hook derives its form from its function: to catch fish. But in cultures where fishing is central to the way of life, the crafting of fish hooks is elevated to a form of art.Fish Hooks of the Pacific Islands brings together the finest specimens from private collections all over the world. Included are more than three hundred newly commissioned photographs showing over six hundred fish hooks at their actual size, accompanied by details on their features and provenance. This is the first comprehensive catalog of Pacific Island fish hooks in more than eighty years, and it brings together vast amounts of new information, including recent discoveries and updated research. In addition, the book includes contributions by Sydney Picasso and oceanic art expert Anthony J. P. Meyer. Opulently illustrated and unprecedented in its comprehensiveness, Fish Hooks of the Pacific Islands offers an incredible amount of information and will be essential to scholars and collectors of tribal or Pacific Island art.

Once consigned almost exclusively to Saturday morning fare for young viewers, television animation has evolved over the last several decades as a programming form to be reckoned with. While many animated shows continue to entertain tots, the form also reaches a much wider audience, engaging viewers of all ages. Whether aimed at toddlers, teens, or adults, animated shows reflect an evolving expression of sophisticated wit, adult humor, and a variety of artistic techniques and styles. The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Series encompasses animated programs broadcast in the United States and Canada since 1948. From early cartoon series like Crusader Rabbit, Rocky and His Friends, and The Flintstones to 21st century stalwarts like The Simpsons, South Park, and Spongebob Squarepants, the wide range of shows can be found in this volume. Series from many networks—such as Comedy Central, the Disney Channel, Nickleodeon, and Cartoon Network— are included, representing both the diversity of programming and the broad spectrum of viewership. Each entry includes a list of cast and characters, credit information, a brief synopsis of the series, and a critical analysis. Additional details include network information and broadcast history. The volume also features one hundred images and an introduction containing an historical overview of animated programming since the inception of television. Highlighting an extensive array of shows from Animaniacs and Archer to The X-Men and Yogi Bear, The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Series is an essential resource for anyone interested in the history and evolution of this constantly expanding art form.

This text aims to combine all the evidence for Hawaiian prehistory into a coherent pattern. It presents a balanced cultural history of the Hawaiian group of islands, from the first Polynesian settlement to the time of European contact and is grounded in the archaeological evidence.