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Story: Kūmara

Taumata atua

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Taumata atua

Taumata atua (resting place of gods) were stone figures that represented Rongo. They were believed to preserve the mauri (life force) of the kūmara crop.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: MA_I029479

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Peter Adds, Kūmara – Religious aspects, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/object/17372/taumata-atua (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Peter Adds, published 1 March 2009.