Wahi Tapu

Wahi Tapu has been defined in the Historic Places Act as sites and places sacred to Maori people in the traditional, religious, ritual or mythological sense. Wahi tapu can be tangible or intangible, and each iwi, hapu or whanau will determine what a wahi tapu is to them.

The Maori Heritage Council of the Trust has listed places which could be considered wahi tapu for the purposes of the Historic Places Act. These include such things as burial places; places where skeletal remains are kept; places where baptismal rites were performed; burial places of placenta; and places where rites were performed. The Trust has already registered a wide range of Maori heritage places as wahi tapu, including pa, springs, marae, trees, swamps, hills, urupa, reefs etc.