Maori Village Totem Wairakei Terraces Taupo New Zealand
Photo & Vacation Spot

In the Maori village at the Wairakei Terraces near Taupo on the North Island of New Zealand, a carving on a totem symbolizes a Maori god.

A Pou or totem stands in a Maori village at the Wairakei Terraces near Taupo on the North Island of New Zealand, which has been carved with a variety of different faces symbolizing gods. In this picture, the carving is a symbol meaning "God of Peace" or "Rongo" in Maori language, who is the Maori God of cultivated plants and peace, particularly the kumara.

The kumara is an important food crop along with taro, yams, cordyline and gourds which were extremely difficult to grow. The only place these foods would flourish was in the far north of New Zealand. There is a family tree showing all the most important Maori Gods, with Rongo being the son of Rangi, the Sky Father and Papa, the Earth Mother.

Pou (Totem) at the Wairakei Terraces Maori Village near Taupo, North Island, New Zealand. This portion of the Pou shows peaceful looking God of the Peace.