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Story: Te Ao Mārama – the natural world

‘Tohunga under tapu’

‘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.

About this item

Auckland Art Gallery - Toi o Tamaki
Oil painting by Gottfried Lindauer

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

How to cite this page:

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal. 'Te Ao Mārama – the natural world', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 1-Mar-09
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/te-ao-marama-the-natural-world/5/2