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Story: Te Āti Awa of Wellington

Tamarau

Image
Tamarau

This is a painting of Tamarau, a spirit ancestor who had a liaison with Rongoueroa. Their child was Awanuiarangi, from whom Te Āti Awa of Wellington take their name. One story says that Tamarau and Rongoueroa met by a stream, and that Tamarau asked that their child be named Awanuiarangi after the stream (awa) to which he descended from heaven (rangi).

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: F.004876/12

by Darcy Nicholas

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Morris Love, Te Āti Awa of Wellington – Identity, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/3766/tamarau (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Morris Love, published 4 March 2009, updated 1 March 2017.

Comments

Darcy nicholas
29 April 2022
I am curious to find out who really gave this story and created the art work. I guess it is of little importance.