HE TUATARA - "HERE THERE BE DRAGONS"

AN ANCIENT LAND

There has been much speculation on the origins of Maori in Aotearoa - 'The Land of the Long White Cloud'. Mythologies and theories abound, but the only true mythologies and legends belong to the people whose Tipuna (Ancestors), lived  and remembered the reality.

In the beginning after the separation of Ranginui (Sky Father) and Papatuanuku (Earth Mother), their strongest son, Tane, saw that his Mother was naked. He was the force that Io-Nui (The Prime Source) chose to clothe Papatuanuku. Tane was the progenitor, and with various 'wives' - the feminine elements and heavenly beings, he engendered many beautiful children. 

Tane's first union with Hine-tu-pari-maunga, the Mountain Maid, produced the inland waters - springs, rivers flowing from the mountains and all the pools and lakes. The second results of their union were the great monsters - the Taniwha, Tuatara - the Dragons of old, more recently called Dinosaurs. One of the living remnants of that long passed race of creatures is pictured above - Aotearoa's beautiful Tuatara.

Tane's second union produced the Tree Children - our Elder Brothers and Sisters who descended from the heavens to clothe the Earth and nourish her creatures. Nikau, or the cycad palm pictured above is one of the trees that existed at the time of the great Tuatara - land based Dragons, or Dinosaurs. 

Trees were the first nourishers and healers for the creatures of Papatuanuku - our beautiful Mother Planet, and they are still the most essential form of life we have. They are our greatest Healers, and here you will be able to learn a little of the lore and ancient knowledge of Rongoa Maori - the indigenous plant based medicines and healing properties of the children of Tane Mahuta. Behind the very handsome Maori Tane (Man) pictured, is the giant Kauri tree, also called ...

TANE MAHUTA - GOD OF THE FORESTS

Arohanui - na Whetumarama

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