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Browse the 1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand
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Graphic: An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand 1966.

Warning

This information was published in 1966 in An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock. It has not been corrected and will not be updated.

Up-to-date information can be found elsewhere in Te Ara.

KAURI GUM

Contents


Maori Uses

Before the European settlers came to New Zealand, the Maori had several uses for kauri gum, which he collected from the surface of the ground. It made good fuel, and was also carried alight as a torch. The soot from the burnt gum was used in the tattooing process. Fresh gum was chewed, and sometimes softened by heating before becoming “chewing gum”.