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Story: Kaitiakitanga – guardianship and conservation

Forest scene

Image
Forest scene

This vibrant rainforest illustrates the Māori term matomato. It has two meanings: green, and growing vigorously. When the forest is matomato it shows its mana (spiritual power).

Using this item

Natural Sciences Image Library of New Zealand

Reference: Ec0040Rbt

by G. R. Roberts

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How to cite this page

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, Kaitiakitanga – guardianship and conservation – Key concepts, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/11596/forest-scene (accessed 9 June 2026).

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, published 2 March 2009.

Comments

Pam chase
01 February 2015
Would like to combine my dads kaitiaki lizard with my mums kaitiaki the hammer shark