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Story: Tangaroa – the sea

Kapa haka

Kapa haka

The origin of kapa haka (Māori traditional performing arts) is often traced back to the troupe of women sent by Tinirau, the ancestor of fish, to identify and capture Kae, who had killed his pet whale, Tutunui. The kapa haka group pictured here performed at Kapahaka Rocks 2004, in Wellington, and is a combination of three schools from Ōtaki – Te Wharekura o Te Rito, Whakatipuranga Ruamano, and Ōtaki College.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Photograph by Leanne Tamaki

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How to cite this page:

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal. 'Tangaroa – the sea', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 24-Sep-11
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/tangaroa-the-sea/3/4