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Story: Papatūānuku – the land

Pregnant woman

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Pregnant woman

Pregnant women and Papatūānuku were closely aligned in traditional Māori thought. As women give birth to humankind, so did Papatūānuku. Additionally, when a child was born its placenta (whenua) was buried in the land (also whenua), underscoring the link.

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by Leanne Tamaki

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How to cite this page

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, Papatūānuku – the land – Women and land, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/11432/pregnant-woman (accessed 11 June 2026).

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

Comments

Jaccqueline Taro Haimona
06 November 2023
Ka rawe to mahi e Charles mā nga Akonga o Aotearoa. Ko te ako au ki a Toi Ohomai i a Tauranga.