Story: Tangaroa – the sea

Fish genealogy

Fish genealogy

Traditional Māori knowledge includes whakapapa (genealogies) of fish and other underwater species. This chart shows that Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatūānuku, the earth mother, were the parents of Tangaroa, the god of the sea. Tangaroa married Heketangawainui and they had Punga, the ancestor of the fish and octopuses.

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How to cite this page:

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, 'Tangaroa – the sea - The importance of the sea', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/document/7389/fish-genealogy (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, published 12 Jun 2006