Reptiles in New Zealand were well known to Māori in pre-European times and featured in many carvings, some of which obviously depict tuatara and others which depict lizards. The body shape of many examples suggests that they are geckos, though skinks also seem to be depicted. With the exception of the Tuatara, which was frequently eaten, lizards were regarded with abhorrence by Māori and Naultinus in particular; sightings of Naultinus were regarded as bad omens.
