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Story: Ngā waewae tapu – Māori exploration

Tekoteko figure

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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

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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, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/14138/tekoteko-figure (accessed 20 June 2026).

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 1 March 2009.