Te Timatanga - The Maori origins (The Māori World view)

I te tīmatanga – In the beginning.
This collection of art prints is inspired by my beliefs as a Māori, an indigenous person of Aotearoa (New Zealand).

My Māori heritage begins with two sacred, primordial beings who have existed since the beginning and continue to exist today — Ranginui and Papatūānuku.

Ranginui, the Sky Father, is the vast expanse above — the heavens that glimmer with stars on a clear night, watching over us like our tūpuna (ancestors). He embodies the limitless skies, the light of day, and the darkness of night.

Papatūānuku, the Earth Mother, is the land beneath us — the oceans, seas, mountains, and valleys. She is the source and sustainer of all life. From trees to insects, birds to animals, and ultimately humans — all living beings come from her. We, as humans, are formed from her dust and return to her in death. According to the Māori worldview, the first woman was shaped from the clay of Papatūānuku herself.