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Story: Papatūānuku – the land

Papatūānuku’s children

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Papatūānuku’s children

In Māori tradition, all things are interconnected. This whakapapa (genealogical chart) shows some of the children of Papatūānuku and Ranginui. They were the ancestors of all parts of nature, including people, birds, forests, fish, winds, and water.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: Taania M. Ka’ai and others, eds. Ki te whaiao: an introduction to Maori culture & society. Auckland: Pearson Education, 2004, p. 3

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

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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, https://teara.govt.nz/en/whakapapa/11430/papatuanukus-children (accessed 18 June 2026).

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, published 1 March 2009.