Story: Medicines and remedies

Tohunga Suppression Act

The Tohunga Suppression Act 1907 was intended to stop people using traditional Māori healing practices which had a supernatural or spiritual element. It was not very effective – only nine convictions were obtained under the act. Whare Taha of northern Hawke's Bay was one of those convicted.

Using this item

National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past

Reference: Poverty Bay Herald, 6 September 1912, p. 5

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

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How to cite this page

Pauline Norris and Rosemary Beresford, Medicines and remedies – Plant extracts to modern drugs, 1900 to 1930s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/document/28223/tohunga-suppression-act (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Pauline Norris and Rosemary Beresford, published 22 March 2011, updated 1 April 2020.

Comments

Caitlin
16 April 2024

This act has had an immense, long-lasting impact. How dare you say that it was 'not very effective?'

Kororia
25 October 2023

I really appreciate that this is reo Māori nga mihi

Jon Keller Mu
03 October 2023

"It was not very effective – only nine convictions were obtained under the act." ??? How is this the only information on this website? No mention about the damage that was done to Maaori culture by this? And who cares that it was not effective? It was a racist act that should have never happened. Please rework this and add information that is actually useful.

bailey
18 May 2023

how did the tohunga suppression act afect the families