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Story: Te ngahere – forest lore

Mataī berries

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Mataī berries

Bird snares were often set on mataī trees to trap tūī and kererū (New Zealand pigeons) as they ate the berries.

Using this item

Natural Sciences Image Library of New Zealand

Reference: DSCF2342

by Peter E. Smith

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How to cite this page

Rāwiri Taonui, Te ngahere – forest lore – The great trees, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/14075/matai-berries (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 2 March 2009.