About Manuel José
Lived 1811 – 1873 (aged 61–62). Manuel José was a Spanish and New Zealand merchant.
Manuel José de Frutos y Huerta (31 de January 1811–1873) was a Spaniard trader and founding father of Paniora clan in New Zealand.
Biography Born Valverde del Majano in Segovia, he arrived to New Zealand around 1833 and lived much of his life as a trader among the Māori people; he is described possessing: pale skin, red hair, and green eyes. He retired to Tikapa on the Waiapu River. He was married to five Ngāti Porou women, and has thousands of living descendants.
Legacy The 2014 play "Paniora" by Briar Grace-Smith was inspired by his legacy.
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Important facts
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Manuel José's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Manuel José?
Spanish trader, founding father of Paniora clan
When was Manuel José born?
Manuel José was born on 31 January 1811 in Valverde del Majano.
When did Manuel José die?
Manuel José died in 1873 in Tikapa.
What was Manuel José's occupation?
Manuel José was a merchant.
What nationality was Manuel José?
Manuel José was Spanish and New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Manuel José (trader)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Manuel José. https://biography.guide/manuel-jose/
MLA: "Manuel José." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/manuel-jose/.
Chicago: "Manuel José." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/manuel-jose/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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