Papatūānuku is the Māori Earth Mother, the sacred source of all life and the foundation upon which everything stands.
She embodies the whenua, its abundance, and our enduring connection to the natural world.
Often envisioned as a resting woman formed from soil, stone, plants, and flowers, Papatūānuku represents nourishment, stability, and belonging. This powerful imagery speaks to creation, identity, and the natural cycles of life, death, and renewal, reminding us of our responsibility to care for the land that sustains us.