Story: Kūmara

Whakaotirangi

Whakaotirangi

In this carving from Te Tokanganui-a-noho meeting house in Te Kūiti, the figure at right holding the kete (basket) is Whakaotirangi. Both Te Arawa and Tainui traditions speak of this ancestress carrying the kūmara to New Zealand. Te Arawa refer to her basket as ‘te kete-rokiroki-a-Whakaotirangi’ (the secure basket of Whakaotirangi). Tainui speak of ‘te kete-rukuruku-a-Whakaotirangi’ (the small basket of Whakaotirangi).

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Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference: C000010

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How to cite this page:

Peter Adds, 'Kūmara - Introducing kūmara to New Zealand', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/17357/whakaotirangi (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Peter Adds, published 24 Nov 2008