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Story: Mātaitai – shellfish gathering

Little Waihī estuary

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Little Waihī estuary

Little Waihī in the Bay of Plenty was known as a place of abundant seafood. Throughout New Zealand various iwi (tribes) and hapū have traditional shellfish-collecting areas which are highly valued.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

by Jock Phillips

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How to cite this page

Mere Whaanga, Mātaitai – shellfish gathering – Archaeological evidence, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/8100/little-waihi-estuary (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Mere Whaanga, published 2 March 2009.