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Story: Te Ao Mārama – the natural world

‘Tohunga under tapu’

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‘Tohunga under tapu’

Tapu (sacredness) was a vital part of traditional Māori society. In this painting from about 1902 by Gottfried Lindauer, a tohunga (priest) is being fed because touching food could remove his tapu.

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Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tāmaki

by Gottfried Lindauer

Permission of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, Te Ao Mārama – the natural world – Mana, tapu and mauri, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/7967/tohunga-under-tapu (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, published 1 March 2009.