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Story: Whenua – how the land was shaped

Bush streams

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Bush streams

Mountains were thought to be the breasts of Papatūānuku, the earth mother. Rivers and streams flowed out of them – their waters were considered to be breast milk. Here, a milky white stream flows through picturesque native bush.

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GNS Science

Reference: CN40000

by Lloyd Homer

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, Whenua – how the land was shaped – A dramatic landscape, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/6717/bush-streams (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, published 2 March 2009.