Story: Ngā waewae tapu – Māori exploration

Tekoteko figure

Tekoteko figure

This tekoteko (carved figure on the gable of a house) depicts Hoturoa, captain of the Tainui canoe (top) and Rakataura, the canoe’s priest (directly below Hoturoa). The pair quarrelled, and Rakataura left to explore parts of the North Island.

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Waikato Museum - Te Whare Taonga o Waikato

Permission of Waikato Museum – Te Whare Taonga o Waikato must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Rāwiri Taonui, 'Ngā waewae tapu – Māori exploration - Tainui and the Waikato', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/14138/tekoteko-figure (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 24 Sep 2007