Few know of the drawings scattered across Aotearoa, some of them dating from first arrival of humans, but iwi and scientists are working to change that
There are two tricks to seeing Māori rock art. The first is to let your eyes slowly adjust to the black and red markings on the limestone and allow the images to float out of the rock like a mirage: the coiled tails of taniwha (revered water spirits), the outspread wings of the now-extinct giant eagle, figures holding weapons and tools, plants, sea creatures and waka (canoes).
The second trick is knowing the art exists in the first place.
