Story: Tangaroa – the sea

Ruatepupuke

Ruatepupuke

Ruatepupuke is shown carrying carvings, his son Te Manuhauturuki, and the kuia (elderly woman) Hinematikotai. Ruatepupuke is believed to have retrieved the carvings from the wharenui (meeting house) of Tangaroa. This was the origin of carving in Māori culture.

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Learning Media Ltd
Reference: Te Tautoko 27. Wellington: Learning Media Ltd, 1995, p. 12
Artwork by Gus Hunter

This material is reproduced by permission of the publishers, Learning Media Ltd, PO Box 3293, Wellington, New Zealand.

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How to cite this page:

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, 'Tangaroa – the sea - Ruatepupuke and the origin of carving', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/7399/ruatepupuke (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, published 12 Jun 2006