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Mahuika and her fingernails of fire

Mahuika and her fingernails of fire
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Title
Mahuika and her fingernails of fire
Content partner
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Collection
Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Description

In one tradition Auahi-roa (a comet) married Mahuika – goddess of fire and the grandmother of Māui. Their children were the fingernails of fire on Mahuika’s hand. Years later, Māui retrieved the fingernails and planted them in the trees used for making fire. This image is by Peter Gossage.

Format
Image
Date created
2 March 2009
Creator
Peter Gossage
Contributing partner
Penguin Random House
URL
https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/5185/mahuika-and-her-fingernails-of-fire

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