Cool, we’re hardly ever in search results.

Thanks to your lead I soon found the info. This is a portrait of Mere Tawhara and daughter Kimiora Maata Kotahi, both of Hawkes Bay, taken by Napier photographer Samuel Carnell.

Here is a more conventional picture of them not smiling.

The format is carte de visite so it’s quite likely that Mere Tawhara or her whanau commissioned it.

I’m surprised I can’t find a whole lot more about these people because both mother and daughter are wearing fine clothes and are obviously high status. On the daughter we can see a satin ribbon and tartan dress as well as what looks like a kahukiwi which is one of the most prestigious cloaks. However they do appear on some family trees so they are probably known about.

Tagging @PugJesus cos you like detail.

Bonus: here’s the current weather in Napier, Hawkes Bay