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Story: Te hī ika – Māori fishing

Battling Te Wheke

Battling Te Wheke

The battle between Kupe and the giant octopus Te Wheke a Muturangi is depicted in this illustration by Cliff Whiting. Kupe, reputed to be the first person to discover New Zealand, and Ngake (or Ngahue) are often remembered in tradition for their role in slaying the creature.

About this item

New Zealand Geographic Board Nga Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa
Reference: He korero purakau mo nga taunahanahatanga a nga tupuna: place names of the ancestors, a Maori oral history atlas. Wellington: New Zealand Geographic Board, 1990.
Mixed media by Cliff Whiting

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How to cite this page:

Paul Meredith. 'Te hī ika – Māori fishing', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 2-Mar-09
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/te-hi-ika-maori-fishing/1/3