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Story: Hawaiki

Tāwhaki

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Tāwhaki

Te Puna Wai Mātauranga (the wellspring of knowledge) was carved by Bob Koko and stands outside the University of Waikato library in Hamilton. It represents Tāwhaki, who was one of the supernatural inhabitants of Hawaiki. According to Tainui tradition, he ascended the heavens and received the three baskets of knowledge.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

by Shirley Williams

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How to cite this page

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, Hawaiki – The significance of Hawaiki, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/object/476/tawhaki (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, published 4 March 2009, updated 1 April 2015.