Story: Moriori

The god Hatitimatangi

This figure of the Moriori god Hatitimatangi was found in a cave in the 19th century. The holes in the chin may have been drilled for the attachment of a beard. It is the only example of Moriori wood sculpture known to have survived.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: I.006386

by Brian Brake

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

Denise Davis and Māui Solomon, Moriori – The migrations from Hawaiki, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/1615/the-god-hatitimatangi (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Denise Davis and Māui Solomon, published 4 March 2009, updated 1 March 2017.

Comments

Thomas Bush
05 August 2013

What an amazing story behind Wharekauri's history no doubt they were peaceful people as they are to this day. As an ex-pat I lived in the Chathams for seven years and I could sense the spiritualness of that land. The impact of new arrivals changed the lives of otherwise very friendly inhabitants