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Story: Whāngai – customary fostering and adoption

Te Puea Hērangi

Image
Te Puea Hērangi

Te Puea Hērangi (also known as Princess Te Puea) cuddles a baby, probably in the 1920s. Over many years Te Puea took on numerous children as whāngai.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Eric Ramsden Collection (PAColl-0546)

Reference: 1/2-044558-F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Basil Keane, Whāngai – customary fostering and adoption – Whāngai in modern times, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/31041/te-puea-herangi (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 10 May 2011, updated 1 June 2017.