Harry Skinner (ethnologist)

Skinner, was a notable New Zealand soldier, ethnologist, university lecturer, museum curator and director, and librarian.

Skinner started studying Māori and in particular the Moriori culture of the Chatham Islands,[1] earning a diploma in anthropology in 1919.

[1] He fought with the Anzacs at Gallipoli in World War I, and was wounded there[5] and discharged as unfit for service in late 1915 after being evacuated to Britain and promoted to lance corporal.

[1] During his service with the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Skinner gained a mention in despatches for his bravery, and on 8 October 1915 was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

[8][9] During his time at the museum, Skinner was responsible for adding more than 65,000 objects to the humanities collections, including purchasing a piece of HMS Bounty from one of Fletcher Christian's direct descendants.

[5] Skinner married Eva Louisa Gibbs on 5 December 1915[2] in Southampton, England, and they had two sons, but one was stillborn.

His work had a big influence on the development of anthropology and ethnology in New Zealand, and his analyses of Māori material culture set the standard and methods for the following 50 years.