Story: Maramataka – the lunar calendar

According to the maramataka there were a number of nights favourable for catching eels. Some nights were good for all aspects of eeling, while others indicated specific methods, such as spearing or setting traps. This group is at Lake Forsyth (Wairewa) in the South Island, a traditional Ngāi Tahu eeling ground. The men skin and dry the eels, while the women make flax baskets to transport them.
Using this item
Alexander Turnbull Library, Tourist and Publicity Department Collection
Reference: 1/2-040047; F
by K. V. Bigwood
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
How to cite this page
Paul Meredith, Maramataka – the lunar calendar – Nights of the month, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/5391/drying-eels (accessed 17 February 2026).
Story by Paul Meredith, published 2 March 2009.