1820 T. Kendall & S. Lee Gram. & Vocab. Lang. N.Z. 174 Mákutu, witchcraft.

1843 E. Dieffenbach Trav. N.Z. II. 16 The belief in witchcraft (makuta), to which many [natives] have fallen victim.]

1846 J. White Jrnl. (MS) 1 If anyone..offended us..we should try to kill them by makutuing them to see if makutu was true.

1863 T. Moser Mahoe Leaves 65 There were old men—firm believers in Makutu (witchcraft).

1905 W. Baucke Where White Man Treads 41 Another decimating tool in the hands of spite and revenge was makutu (witchcraft)... Let one fear that a makutu spell had been laid upon him,..he would..die!

1938 R. Finlayson Brown Man's Burden 70 She was sure someone had put a makutu spell on her and the evil spirit was eating her life away.

1963 Evening Post (Wellington, N.Z.) 16 Dec. The true tohunga whiawhia, who had gained complete mastery of the powers of makutu, was able to project his spirit in such a manner as to kill men and women.

1971 N.Z. Listener 29 Mar. 11 A number of modern case histories of patients whose illness or death has been connected with makutu.

1978 B. Mason in Islands Aug. 15 Machines are magic, makutu, and he's just got to learn their secrets.

1825 in J. R. Elder Marsden's Lieutenants (1934) 235 We were told by the natives there that the dead bodies were three slaves that were killed for makootooing a chief.

1828 H. Williams Early Jrnls. 25 Mar. (1961) 117 It is generally current that Pango..had makutud (bewitched) 'Hongi and caused his death.

1846 J. White Jrnl. (MS) 1 If anyone..offended us..we should try to kill them by makutuing them to see if makutu was true.

1905 W. Baucke Where White Man Treads 263 ‘Good,’ she replied, ‘then it is you and I; I will makutu you and kill you!’

1943 N. Marsh Colour Scheme i. 25 ‘I'll tell my great-grandfather..and he'll makutu you.’ ‘Kid-stakes! Nobody's going to put a jinx on me.’

1966 V. R. S. Meredith Long Brief 208 I am going to makutu you.