RONGO

The Origin
of kumara

Rongo is another
well-known east
Polynesian deity.
In Rarotonga,it was one
of the five sons of
Atea and Paparoa.

 Deity of all cultivated

plants
Become the progenitor of
the separation of the
heavens and the earth

In East Coast Ngati Porou

traditions,
Rongo-maraeroa(rongo of the
long marea) is the Father of
kumara,
Rongo-i-amo (rongo of the
ceremonies), actually
conveyed the kumara to
human beings.

The Ngati Awa tribe say that

RONGO is a son of Tane,
and father of the Kumara.
- Also represented PEACE.
KUMARA- main source of
carbohydrates,most vital
crop in Maori Society.

Equivalent to:
Potato : Irish
Taro : Polynesians
Rice : Asia

 Kumara is difficult to
grow, as it needed to be
specially propagated and
prepared for cropping to
be successful.

The mid-June rising of Matariki

( the Pleiades) signaled the time
when the earth is turned in
preparation for planting.
The rising of Poutu- te-rangi (Altair)
and Whanui (Vega) in late
summer signaled the optimum
time for harvesting and storing the
kumara.

 Taranaki tribe say it Turi and

his wife was Rongorongo,
Bay of plenty tribes say the
Canoe Te Aratawhao fetched
the kumara from Hawaiki.
Ngati awa tribe say that
Rongo-mauri acquired the
kumara from the star WHANUI
(Vega)

 East Coast tribe saqy

Kahukura went to get the
Kumara on the Canoe.
Horouta south island traditions
say Rongo-i-tua brought the
kumara from Hawaiki.

THANK YOU for

Listening...
Prepared by:
Jessa N. Buendia