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Story: Otago region

A catch of barracouta

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A catch of barracouta

Barracouta and red cod were important food sources for Otago Māori. This 1860s drawing shows Māori unloading a catch of barracouta, at Ōtākou . On the right are racks for curing the fish so it could be stored. The new lighthouse on Taiaroa Head can be seen in the background.

Using this item

Hocken Collections, University of Otago

Reference: The illustrated New Zealander, 1867

Permission of the Hocken Collections Uare Taoka o Hakena, University of Otago, must be obtained before any re-use of this image. Further information may be obtained from the Library through its website.

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How to cite this page

Malcolm McKinnon, Otago region – Māori history and whaling, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/22628/a-catch-of-barracouta (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Malcolm McKinnon, published 18 August 2009, updated 1 May 2015.