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Story: Mātaitai – shellfish gathering

Shellfish eaten by Māori

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Shellfish eaten by Māori

This table lists the common, Māori and scientific names for shellfish that were traditionally eaten by Māori. The highlighted names are those that are still collected and eaten today.

Using this item

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: Margaret S. Morley, Seashells of New Zealand. Auckland: New Holland, 2004, and Andrew Crowe, Which seashell? Auckland: Penguin, 1999

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How to cite this page

Mere Whaanga, Mātaitai – shellfish gathering – Traditional patterns of harvest, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/diagram/9359/shellfish-eaten-by-maori (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Mere Whaanga, published 2 March 2009.