Kaitiaki tanga

DSC_0300

One side of this piece represents the Maori gods – the separation of Papatuanuku (Mother Earth) and Ranginui (Sky Father) which created Te Ao Marama (the world of light in wich we live in). Two of Tane Mahuta’s brothers look after growing food. They are Haumia tiketike (who looks after food on top of the ground) and Rongomatane (who looks after food under the ground like kumara etc.) and are represented by the two koru. On the other side of the pou is the representation of these two amazing people coming together as female and male from the respective female Mother Earth and male Sky Father and joining in the world of light.