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Story: Māori prophetic movements – ngā poropiti

Dream of Te Nākahi

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Dream of Te Nākahi

This sketch shows the dream of Te Nākahi (the serpent) drawn in February 1847. The drawing suggests the scattering of divinatory sticks by a tohunga. Figure number 1 represents the high cliff on the East Coast, with waves dashing against it, and number 2 the canoe upside down and people drowning. Number 3 is another canoe, overturned. Number 4 is 'Ata o te rangi or the Spirit of the air', who extended his hand to Mohi Tāwhai and threw him back on land; 5 is Mohi Tāwhai.

Using this item

Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Reference: NZ MSS 116, p. 76

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Judith Binney, Māori prophetic movements – ngā poropiti – The first prophet – Te Papahurihia, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/document/27709/dream-of-te-nakahi (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Judith Binney, published 13 April 2011.