Maori have their own mythological fairies, called Patupaiarehe.  These beings inhabit the forests and mountains, and usually only venture out at night or when there is fog or mist to hide them. Being sensitive to sunlight, they are fair-skinned with reddish or light coloured hair, with eye colour of blue or black. Some believe that red-haired Maori are their descendants.

Some also believe that they were the first inhabitants of New Zealand, before the Maori arrived from Hawaiiki. They mostly lived on the North Island, in the Waikato, around Rotorua, Wairoa, in the Urewera and Waitakere ranges, although some are believed to have lived in a few locations on the South Island.  

Patupaiarehe could be hostile to Maori, preferring to be a closed group and not mix. They feared the light, so feared anyone who might try to force them to spend time in the daylight.  They survived on raw food from the forest and sea, and disliked the smell of cooked food.  So any Maori fearing that the Patupaiarehe were nearby would cook food on the fire, to ward them away.

Despite not wanting to mix with Maori, their language was similar, and they were known to play the Maori koauau and putorino musical instruments, and sing waiata, creating beautiful, haunting songs.  They dressed in garments made from flax.  They were adept at weaving and net-making, and it is believed that the art of Maori net-making was learnt from Maori who had been abducted by Patupaiarehe and then escaped, bringing the weaving knowledge back with them.

The children of mixed Patupaiarehe/ Maori blood are known as Urukehu (light haired).  This is not the same as albino Maori, who are known as Korako in some regions.

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Maori have their own mythological fairies, called Patupaiarehe.  These beings inhabit the forests and mountains, and usually only venture out at night or when there is fog or mist to hide them. Being sensitive to sunlight, they are fair-skinned with reddish or light coloured hair, with eye colour of blue or black. Some believe that red-haired Maori are their descendants.

Some also believe that they were the first inhabitants of New Zealand, before the Maori arrived from Hawaiiki. They mostly lived on the North Island, in the Waikato, around Rotorua, Wairoa, in the Urewera and Waitakere ranges, although some are believed to have lived in a few locations on the South Island.  

Patupaiarehe could be hostile to Maori, preferring to be a closed group and not mix. They feared the light, so feared anyone who might try to force them to spend time in the daylight.  They survived on raw food from the forest and sea, and disliked the smell of cooked food.  So any Maori fearing that the Patupaiarehe were nearby would cook food on the fire, to ward them away.

Despite not wanting to mix with Maori, their language was similar, and they were known to play the Maori koauau and putorino musical instruments, and sing waiata, creating beautiful, haunting songs.  They dressed in garments made from flax.  They were adept at weaving and net-making, and it is believed that the art of Maori net-making was learnt from Maori who had been abducted by Patupaiarehe and then escaped, bringing the weaving knowledge back with them.

The children of mixed Patupaiarehe/ Maori blood are known as Urukehu (light haired).  This is not the same as albino Maori, who are known as Korako in some regions.

Get your Maori fairies here >>>