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Story: Oneone – soils

Kōkōwai rock

Image
Kōkōwai rock

This rock, found in the South Island, contains kōkōwai, a red ochre which was ground to a powder then mixed with shark oil to form a paint.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: MA_I001694

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Basil Keane, Oneone – soils – Uses of soil, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/object/19113/kokowai-rock (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 2 February 2010.