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Story: Te aitanga pepeke – the insect world

Insect stages

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Insect stages

Māori were close observers of nature. This table gives examples of the Māori names for different stages in the life cycles of some insects.

Using this item

Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: David Miller, ‘The insect people of the Maori.’ Journal of the Polynesian Society 61 (1952): 1–61

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How to cite this page

Bradford Haami, Te aitanga pepeke – the insect world – Insects and canoes, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/document/12612/insect-stages (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Bradford Haami, published 1 March 2009.