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Story: Tāwhirimātea – the weather

The windy Chatham Islands

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The windy Chatham Islands

This akeake tree has been bent by the powerful prevailing westerly winds on the Chatham Islands. The fierce assault brings to mind the attack by Tāwhirimātea, god of the wind, on Tāne Mahuta, god of the forest, for his role in separating Ranginui and Papatūānuku.

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New Zealand Herald

Reference: 2 February 2005

by Richard Robinson

Permission of the New Zealand Herald must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Basil Keane, Tāwhirimātea – the weather – Wind and storms, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/8273/the-windy-chatham-islands (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 March 2022.