A full-length photographic studio portrait of an unnamed Maori Warrior looking towards the camera. The man is wearing a spotted white cloth with a boarder around his waist. He has a knotted neckerchief around his neck. Behind him is a long piece of patterned textile draped onto the floor, possibly attached to his waist at the back. He holds a long 'taiaha' (close-quarters staff weapon) in his right hand, with the end of it pressed against his left thigh by the left hand. The backdrop is a painted rural river scene.

The photograph is captioned 'Maori Warrior'.

Frederick North was Assistant Paymaster on board HMS Barrosa (1860), a wooden screw corvette, while it was part of the Royal Navy Flying (Detached) Squadron that sailed from England in June 1869. The squadron visited New Zealand, arriving at Lyttleton on 16 January 1870, although Barrosa arrived at Wellington on 25 January from Melbourne. The Squadron left New Zealand around 10 February 1870.