Tangaroa - Guardian of the Ocean
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Tangaroa is a deity described in Māori traditions as the kaitiaki (guardian) of all oceans and waters. He is one of the children of Ranginui (the sky father) and Papatūānuku (the earth mother), from whom life originates. Among various accounts throughout Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific, Tangaroa is identified as the father of sea creatures.
In some traditions, the sea is thought to be where all life originated. Traditional carvings of Māori ancestors can resemble amphibians - animals that can live on both land and water – with snake-like bodies and large heads.
Whakairo (carving) is said to have come from under the sea. One story describes how Ruatepupuke discovered it when he went to rescue his son, Te Manuhauturuki, who had been captured by Tangaroa and bound to his house. In revenge, Ruatepupuke set the house on fire, killing most of the fish, Tangaroa’s children. He the carved posts of the house with him. Other traditions say that Tūmatauenga, the god of war, fought with Tangaroa. Their rivalry explains why humans, the descendants of Tūmatauenga, go fishing: they are continuing the war against the children of Tangaroa.
In the coin design, the pūhoro motif that surrounds Tangaroa refers to his abilities to control the tides and waves, as well as his strength and power as guardian of the seas and waterways. The pūhoro design traditionally refers to speed and agility, depicting the cutting or rippling effect of the water or waves when a waka (canoe) travels. The pūhoro design is often used to adorn the prow of the waka. The sea creatures within the design represent the many stories, traditions and lineage of Tangaroa, including the tohora or whale. Whales are viewed as the guardians of navigators. According to Māori oral traditions, whales guided canoes to New Zealand, and the ancestor Paikea is said to have arrived riding a whale.