Story: Te Ao Mārama – the natural world

Ranginui, Papatūānuku and offspring (1st of 2)

Ranginui, Papatūānuku and offspring

Carvings on either side of this woven panel depict Papatūānuku (the earth mother, top left) and Ranginui (the sky father, top right), with their children beneath. Below Papatūānuku are Tānemahuta, deity of forests, and Haumiatiketike, deity of uncultivated foods. Below Ranginui are Tangaroa, who ruled the oceans, and Rongo, god of peace and cultivated foods. These poupou (carved posts) were made by master carver Rangi Hetet of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Ngāti Maniapoto tribes. Two of his daughters wove the tukutuku panel.

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Land Information New Zealand
Carving by Rangi Hetet

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How to cite this page:

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, 'Te Ao Mārama – the natural world - An interconnected world', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/7950/ranginui-papatuanuku-and-offspring (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, published 24 Sep 2007