We know the God of Kumara, but who is the Mother of Kumara?

We know the God of Kumara, but who is the Mother of Kumara?

From A Maori Podcast by Ihira

April 15, 2026 · 7 min · Season 1 · Episode 65

About this episode

The episode explores the story of Pani-tinaku and her connection to the kumara in Maori mythology.

Kia ora ra e te iwi! I have a Patreon where I hope to add some additional value. If you'd like the kaupapa, and you appreciate this mahi, you can give a koha here: A Maori Podcast I am planning to start a regularly online space to korero. Details are here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/korero-space-for-153338068 Kia ora! I really enjoyed learning about this weeks atua wahine. I'd love to find more stories of her down the line. Anyways as always, I've provided my source, and made a quick maori translation. Ko wai a Pani? Nana ko Kumara. E ai ki nga korero a Hamiora Pio, tetahi tohunga korero no Ngati Awa i puritia ai enei korero. Ka eke ki runga, ki runga rawa, a Rongo-maui. Ka eke ki nga rangi tuhaha ki te whai kumara mai i tona tuakana, mai i a Whanui. Heoi ano, kihai i hoatu ra e Whanui. Ahakoa ra, ka tangohia, ka kuhua i tona ure, huna ai. Heke ana a ia, noho ai ki tana makau, ki a Pani-tinaku. Ka hapu, ka karangahia tana ipo, "Ki Mona-ariki ahau." Ka tae atu ki reira, ka rere ki te wai, ka takina te karakia, ka whanau mai nga tamariki kumara. "...According to a Ngati Awa authority, Hamiora Pio, a man named Rongo-maui clibed to the sky to acquire the kumara from his elder…

People in this episode

Host: Ihira

Topics covered

  • Maori mythology
  • Kumara
  • Atua wahine
  • Cultural stories
  • Language learning

Keywords

  • Kumara
  • Maori
  • Pani-tinaku
  • Rongo-maui
  • Hamiora Pio
  • Ngati Awa
  • mythology

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