Skip to main content

Story: Northland region

Early carving

One of the relics of early Māori occupation of Northland is this carving, found at Lake Tāngonge, near Kaitāia. Once thought to be a door lintel, it is more likely to be a roof decoration. It is now in the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

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.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Claudia Orange, Northland region – First inhabitants: Māori, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/8967/early-carving (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Claudia Orange, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 May 2015.