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Story: Papatūānuku – the land

Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere)

Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere)

Many tribal traditions explain the origins of landforms with stories about ancestors. In the South Island, the Waitaha ancestor Rākaihautū created lakes by carving them out with his digging stick. Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere) is known as Te Keteika-a-Rākaihautū – Rākaihautū's fishing basket.

About this item

Private collection
Photograph by Christina Troup

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How to cite this page:

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal. 'Papatūānuku – the land', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 25-Sep-11
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/papatuanuku-the-land/7/1