Story: Papatūānuku – the land

Creation story pare (lintel)

Creation story pare (lintel)

In the creation tradition, Papatūānuku (earth mother) and Ranginui (sky father) were locked in an embrace, and were later separated by their children. This lintel, carved in the Bay of Plenty in the 1850s, depicts Papatūānuku and Ranginui during the creation period. The spirals show light coming into the world.

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Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira

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How to cite this page:

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, 'Papatūānuku – the land - Papatūānuku – the earth mother', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/11429/creation-story-pare-lintel (accessed 16 April 2024)

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, published 24 Sep 2007