Te Awamutu Museum Online

...where history never repeats

The Tangata Whenua Gallery features a range of taonga Maori, including the figure of Uenuku - one of the most treasured taonga of the Tainui people.

Interior View of Tangata Whenua Gallery

Uenuku is said to be one of the traditional gods or spirits of the Maori people, and manifests as a rainbow. Uenuku is very special to the local Tainui Maori, and there are often leaves placed at his base as a sign of aroha, or affection.

The spirit of Uenuku was apparently brought to New Zealand by the people on the Tainui canoe, in a stone. Upon arrival they made a carving in which the spirit of Uenuku then resided. This stone was said to have sat in the round opening at the top of the carving.

From the available evidence it seems likely that Uenuku was deliberately placed into Lake Ngaroto, near Te Awamutu, for safe-keeping during the battle of Hingakaka sometime around 1780. He remained there until 1906, when he was found by a European farmer after the lake levels had been lowered. Uenuku was kept on the family farm until his loan to Wanganui Museum, where he was on display for many years. He was finally identified in 1945, and was returned to Te Awamutu in 1958.

Uenuku travelled to the United States as part of Te Maori, a major exhibition of 175 Maori taonga that toured through four major American cities from 1984 to 1985, followed by a tour of New Zealand during 1986 and 1987. Uenuku was frequently described as the centrepiece of the exhibition.

Today, Uenuku takes pride of place in our Tangata Whenua gallery.

(Source: Jennifer Evans, Uenuku A Tainui Taonga at the Te Awamutu District Museum, 1994)

Note:
Due to his spiritual significance, the figure of Uenuku is unable to be photographed or otherwise reproduced without the permission of the Maori Queen, Dame te Atairangikaahu. Please contact the museum for further information.