Skip to main content

Story: Te ohanga onamata a rohe – economic regions

Seal carving

These stylised seals are carved into a limestone cave known as Te Ana a Nunuku (Nunuku's cave), near Moreroa on the western side of Te Whanga lagoon on Chatham Island. Seals were an important source of food and clothing for Moriori.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: 1/2-080796-F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Basil Keane, Te ohanga onamata a rohe – economic regions – Rēkohu – Chatham Islands, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/23617/seal-carving (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 4 March 2010.