Historical smellscapes in Aotearoa New Zealand: Intersections between colonial knowledges of smell, race, and wetlands

This paper explores European (Pakeha) settlers' perceptions of smells and why certain smells were labelled as threatening and transgressive, whereas others were deemed desirable and health-inducing. Whether it was the stench of dried fish, the musky odours of wetlands or the scent of flowers, representations of smell pervade the writings of Pakeha in Aotearoa New Zealand. In this paper, we draw attention to the critical role smells played in Pakeha settlers' perceptions of and efforts to radically remake terrestrial and freshwater systems of the Waipa and Waikato Rivers (located in the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand) in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Smells, scents, and aromas were all-powerful aides connected to Pakeha settlers' understandings of health and disease. They influenced individual settlers and settler colonial government actions to remake landscapes and waterscapes. Nevertheless, smellscapes are largely overlooked by scholars when discussing environmental change and management regimes. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This paper explores the perceptions of smells among European (Pakeha) settlers in New Zealand and their efforts to remake terrestrial and freshwater systems of the Waipa and Waikato Rivers. Smells played a critical role in Pakeha settlers' understandings of health and disease, influencing their actions to reshape landscapes and waterscapes. However, scholars often overlook the importance of smells when discussing environmental change and management regimes.