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Story: Traditional Māori religion – ngā karakia a te Māori

Tūāhu

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Tūāhu

This sketch was made by the missionary Richard Taylor. It shows a large wooden figure with a moko (tattoo), with two smaller figures each side. Taylor suggested this was a tūāhu, a sacred place. Tūāhu were usually located away from kāinga.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: E-296-q-057-2

by Richard Taylor

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, 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

Basil Keane, Traditional Māori religion – ngā karakia a te Māori – Tūāhu and wāhi tapu, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/30820/tuahu (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 28 April 2011.