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Story: Māori rock art – ngā toi ana

Kōkōwai pigment

Image
Kōkōwai pigment

This lump of naturally occurring haematite, known to Māori as kōkōwai, is of the type used to produce red-ochre pigment for rock art. Kōkōwai is generally found in areas of volcanic activity. 

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: ME017175

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Brian Allingham, Māori rock art – ngā toi ana – Rock art designs, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/object/45523/kokowai-pigment (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Brian Allingham, published 6 June 2014.