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Story: Mātaitai – shellfish gathering

Shell midden

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Shell midden

Māori have long made use of a huge variety of shellfish. The full extent has become clearer as archaeologists have excavated middens like this one at Ōngare Point. Pipi, pāua, pūpū, mussels, cockles, oysters, scallops and mud snails have been found, along with a number of less common shells.

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University of Auckland, Department of Anthropology, Anthropology Photographic Archive

Reference: 024/F_3_198_211

by Wilfred Shawcross

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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/8102/shell-midden (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Mere Whaanga, published 2 March 2009.