Story: Te Ao Mārama – the natural world

‘Tohunga under tapu’

‘Tohunga under tapu’

Tapu (sacredness) was a vital part of traditional Māori society. In this painting from about 1902 by Gottfried Lindauer, a tohunga (priest) is being fed because touching food could remove his tapu.

Using this item

Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tāmaki
Oil painting by Gottfried Lindauer

Permission of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, 'Te Ao Mārama – the natural world - Mana, tapu and mauri', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/7967/tohunga-under-tapu (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, published 24 Sep 2007