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Story: Whakapapa – genealogy

Te Kore whakapapa

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This whakapapa represents a European view of the development from Te Kore (the void), to Te Pō (the night), to Te Ao (the day). Early whakapapa often depict these entities in a different order.

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How to cite this page

Rāwiri Taonui, Whakapapa – genealogy – Whakapapa of creation, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/speech/30892/te-kore-whakapapa (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 3 May 2011, updated 1 July 2015.