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Story: Muriwhenua tribes

Kaitāia carving

This remarkable carving from about 1400 was once thought to be a door lintel, but is more likely a roof decoration, designed to be seen from both sides. Now in the Auckland Museum, it originally came from Lake Tāngonge, near Kaitāia in the heart of Te Rarawa territory.

Using this item

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira

Reference: Ethno 6341

Permission of the Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Rāwiri Taonui, Muriwhenua tribes – Te Aupōuri and Te Rarawa, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/430/kaitaia-carving (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 4 March 2009, updated 22 March 2017.