Taranga, the mother of Māui, stands over her newborn son, who floats on the ocean. Above her the baby lies on his mother's hair. When he was stillborn she set him into the sea wrapped in her tikitiki, a topknot of hair. Māui became known as Māui-tikitiki-a-Taranga. On one side of Taranga Māui, as a kererū, looks down on his father, and on her other side are Māui's brothers. In this tradition, Māui washed ashore and was raised by his grandfather.
Courtesy of Robyn Kahukiwa
Using this item
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference:
1983-0020-2
Artwork by Robyn Kahukiwa
Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
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