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Story: Te Ao Mārama – the natural world

Ureia

Image
Ureia

This carving is of Ureia, a taniwha who lived in Tīkapa (the Firth of Thames). Ureia was a symbol of the fertility and prestige of the Hauraki region.

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Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira

Permission of the Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, Te Ao Mārama – the natural world – Mana, tapu and mauri, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/object/7970/ureia (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, published 1 March 2009.