Story: Papatūānuku – the land

Origins of trees

Origins of trees

Traditional Māori knowledge was often recorded in whakapapa (genealogical charts). This whakapapa shows the origins of plants and trees. Ranginui (sky) and Papatūānuku (earth) were the parents of Tāne, the god of the forests. With his various wives, Tāne gave rise to the trees and plants shown.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Reference: Elsdon Best, Maori religion and mythology. Vol. 2. Wellington: Dominion Museum, 1976, pp. 271-272

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How to cite this page:

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, 'Papatūānuku – the land - Whakapapa and kaupapa', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/whakapapa/11468/origins-of-trees (accessed 24 April 2024)

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, published 24 Sep 2007