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Story: Te ngahere – forest lore

Pou outside Waitomo

Audio file

This pou (supporting post) from Waitomo represents Tāne, god of the forest. The god was often acknowledged by Māori when they took resources from the forest. Listen to the karakia (incantation), which was said to lift the tapu from a house built from Tāne’s wood. Its purpose was to appease Tāne.

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Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Reference: 44120

Image: Waitomo Glowworm Caves

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How to cite this page

Rāwiri Taonui, Te ngahere – forest lore – Māori relationship with the forest, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/speech/14067/pou-outside-waitomo (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 2 March 2009.