Story: Te mana o te wāhine – Māori women

Te Ao Kapurangi

Te Ao Kapurangi

This pou (carved post) depicts Te Ao Kapurangi, a chieftainess of Ngāti Rangiwewehi. Ngāpuhi chief Hongi Hika led a raiding party against Te Arawa, then said he would only spare people who passed between Te Ao Kapurangi's thighs. She stood on the roof of the meeting house and her relatives went inside.

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Private collection, Jack Lang

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How to cite this page:

Rawinia Higgins rāua ko Paul Meredith, 'Te mana o te wāhine – Māori women - Tapu and peacemaking', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/31560/te-ao-kapurangi (accessed 28 April 2024)

Story by Rawinia Higgins rāua ko Paul Meredith, published 5 May 2011, updated 1 Jun 2017