In Māori mythology, the demi-god Māui placed the shark Te Māngōroa in the sky, forming the Milky Way. Sharks and rays, along with other animals living in the sea, were considered to be the children of the ugly god Punga.

The shortfin mako shark (/ ˈmɑːkoʊˌ ˈmeɪ -/; Māori: /ˈmaːko/; Isurus oxyrinchus), also known as the shortfin mako, blue pointer, or bonito shark, is a large mackerel shark. It is commonly referred to as the mako shark, as is the longfin mako shark (Isurus paucus).

The Mangopare symbol depicts the hammerhead shark. It symbolizes strength, termination, strong will and fighting spirit. Māori believed sharks to be protective spirits, and shark teeth necklaces were common status symbols amongst tribe leaders.

Many Kiwi’s are unaware of the cultural significance of sharks, particularly the white shark to the Māori people. Māori knew the Great White Shark by a number of names including Mangō-taniwha, ururoa and tuatini and sharks in general feature in many ancient Māori stories.

At sea, a taniwha often appears as a whale or a large shark [5] such as southern right whale or whale shark; [6] compare the Māori name for the great white shark: mangō-taniwha. In inland waters, they may still be of whale-like dimensions, but look more like a gecko or a tuatara, having a row of spines along the back. Other taniwha appear as ...

Jun 19, 2023 · One of the most widely recognized shark gods in Maori culture is Mangō-Taniwha, the Great White Shark deity. Maori legend tells that this god descends from the primal parents, the Sky Father Rangi and the Earth Mother Papa, denoting its …

(noun) white shark, white pointer, Carcharodon carcharias - a large, heavy-bodied shark found in temperate and tropical waters. Eats a wide variety of fish and birds and attacks humans. Noted for its broadly triangular teeth with serrated edges.

Māori believed sharks to be protective spirits, and shark teeth necklaces were common status symbols amongst tribe leaders. Moana means an open body of water – an ocean or sea. The term Moana, meaning ocean, is common to all Polynesian cultures.

Aotearoa New Zealand consists of two islands and around 70 species of sharks are found in their waters. Discover why sharks are our kin and how their wellbeing is interconnected to the health of the environment. About 800,000 people who identify as Māori live in Aotearoa New Zealand and another 140,000 live in Australia.

New Zealand is home to various species of sharks, or mangō, as they are known in Maori. These include well-known specimens like blue sharks, thresher sharks, and great whites but also species that are endemic to the island nation.