Story: Te ngahere – forest lore

Puanga

For many iwi the appearance of Puanga (Rigel in Orion) in the night sky signalled the start of winter. Puanga was said to be one of the parents of the climbing plant puawānanga.

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How to cite this page

Rāwiri Taonui, Te ngahere – forest lore – Flowering plants, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/diagram/14080/puanga (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 2 March 2009.