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Atua Wāhine: The ancient wisdom of Maori goddesses and how to navigate modern life
Ancient wisdom of the Māori goddesses to help you navigate the modern world
Atua wāhine are the Māori goddesses who make up the world around the earth, fire, water, moon and more. Learn about 15 atua wāhine and how we can draw upon them to help us live with courage and confidence in the modern world.
From the earth mother, Papatūākuku, to the goddess of peace, Hinepūtehue, who transformed pain into beauty, to the misunderstood goddess of the underworld, Hinenuitepō, this book is a treasure of knowledge and insight.
Drawing on whakataukī (proverbs) and pūrākau (stories), Hana Tapiata shares her experience of living by feminine Indigenous wisdom and shows how we can too. With guided steps, these atua will inspire you to embrace creativity, acknowledge cycles of change, and discover self-determination.
Atua wāhine are the Māori goddesses who make up the world around the earth, fire, water, moon and more. Learn about 15 atua wāhine and how we can draw upon them to help us live with courage and confidence in the modern world.
From the earth mother, Papatūākuku, to the goddess of peace, Hinepūtehue, who transformed pain into beauty, to the misunderstood goddess of the underworld, Hinenuitepō, this book is a treasure of knowledge and insight.
Drawing on whakataukī (proverbs) and pūrākau (stories), Hana Tapiata shares her experience of living by feminine Indigenous wisdom and shows how we can too. With guided steps, these atua will inspire you to embrace creativity, acknowledge cycles of change, and discover self-determination.
- GenresNonfiction
288 pages, Hardcover
Published May 20, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 11, 2024
What a lovely and inspiring Māori resource. Having a feminist perspective on indigenous stories is so important, and with them being in an accessible 'self-help' format that encourages you to apply atua wāhine wisdom to your personal life no matter your background, is brilliant. The vast variety of atua wāhine allows self-reflection in many areas, and in turn reminds you there is not one 'right' way to be. I am so glad and thankful to have these pūrākau added to my kete.
December 13, 2024
He pukapuka mīharo 🤍
I read this cover to cover in a couple weeks but because there were seventeen pūrākau, it was a lot of information to absorb. Going back, I would love to read a chapter every week or so, make notes, let the story of each Atua marinate and apply each wānanga into my life.
Super interesting and just as important to retell and remember.
As for Hana’s writing, she is an amazing story teller and writes so gracefully and beautifully. There are a few good lines that stuck with me.
I read this cover to cover in a couple weeks but because there were seventeen pūrākau, it was a lot of information to absorb. Going back, I would love to read a chapter every week or so, make notes, let the story of each Atua marinate and apply each wānanga into my life.
Super interesting and just as important to retell and remember.
As for Hana’s writing, she is an amazing story teller and writes so gracefully and beautifully. There are a few good lines that stuck with me.
December 24, 2024
"Ahakoa tō ira, ahakoa nō hea koe, ahakoa nā wai koe, nau mai! However you identify, wherever you’re from, whomever you belong to, this collection of pūrākau and interpretations of their wisdom is for you."
This is a beautiful book, that can only lead to self-discovery and strength.
The atua wāhine, Māori goddesses, captured in this gorgeous book, embody the forces of nature - earth, fire, water, the moon, and more - and hold timeless wisdom to guide us all in the modern world. This book introduces 15 atua wāhine, sharing their stories and how their qualities can empower us to live with courage, creativity, and self-determination.
From Papatūānuku, the nurturing earth mother, to Hinepūtehue, who transforms pain into peace, to Hinenuitepō, the goddess of cycles and endings, their wisdom can help us navigate life’s challenges.
Through whakataukī (proverbs) and pūrākau (stories), author Hana Tapiata offers practical steps to apply this feminine Indigenous wisdom in our daily lives. She provides moments to wananga, to consider how to apply the learning's to improve your life. Let the atua inspire you to honour change, embrace your inner strength, and live with purpose, all while staying rooted in the beauty of Aotearoa’s Māori traditions.
This would be a beautiful Christmas gift idea.
"Koīrā te mana o te wahine - the prestige, the power and grace of women. To be born from, through and into this world to bring about change and create new worlds in the process."
This is a beautiful book, that can only lead to self-discovery and strength.
The atua wāhine, Māori goddesses, captured in this gorgeous book, embody the forces of nature - earth, fire, water, the moon, and more - and hold timeless wisdom to guide us all in the modern world. This book introduces 15 atua wāhine, sharing their stories and how their qualities can empower us to live with courage, creativity, and self-determination.
From Papatūānuku, the nurturing earth mother, to Hinepūtehue, who transforms pain into peace, to Hinenuitepō, the goddess of cycles and endings, their wisdom can help us navigate life’s challenges.
Through whakataukī (proverbs) and pūrākau (stories), author Hana Tapiata offers practical steps to apply this feminine Indigenous wisdom in our daily lives. She provides moments to wananga, to consider how to apply the learning's to improve your life. Let the atua inspire you to honour change, embrace your inner strength, and live with purpose, all while staying rooted in the beauty of Aotearoa’s Māori traditions.
This would be a beautiful Christmas gift idea.
"Koīrā te mana o te wahine - the prestige, the power and grace of women. To be born from, through and into this world to bring about change and create new worlds in the process."
dnf-read-again
January 3, 2025I loved this book. I highly recommend. Each chapter contained a page of self-reflection / prompts. I dnf because I don’t need those at the moment but will be reading again when I can fully enjoy it
December 21, 2024
This book is about Hana's pūrākau in her own words, alot of which I could relate to and/or are going through now. Focusing energy on something new, sustain life, and transcend to new worlds. Growth - to seek the light and grow towards it. I really enjoyed the wanana/reflection/excercise sections (which I am yet to do). It also made me re-think, reinterpret things, and the world differently.
December 26, 2024
Oh, how I loved this book. The author does a great job of explaining the pūrākau of each atua, and even as pakeha, you're encouraged to learn from and incorporate these concepts into your life.
I also liked that the author critiques colonial meaning ascribed to indigenous stories and dispels the misleading ideas that came with the colonisation of Aotearoa.
In short, a brilliant book to learn more about the atua wahine that shape te ao Māori.
PS. if your te reo is rusty, there's a helpful glossary included.
My fave auta wahine/pūrākau:
→ Hinemoana and the intrinsic connection we have to water
→ Tainui waka and how we can promote whakapapa in ways other than having children
→ Hineraukatauri and listening to what our land is telling us
→ Hinenuitepo and her transformation being a celebration of self-determination
I also liked that the author critiques colonial meaning ascribed to indigenous stories and dispels the misleading ideas that came with the colonisation of Aotearoa.
In short, a brilliant book to learn more about the atua wahine that shape te ao Māori.
PS. if your te reo is rusty, there's a helpful glossary included.
My fave auta wahine/pūrākau:
→ Hinemoana and the intrinsic connection we have to water
→ Tainui waka and how we can promote whakapapa in ways other than having children
→ Hineraukatauri and listening to what our land is telling us
→ Hinenuitepo and her transformation being a celebration of self-determination
April 24, 2026
"Atua Wāhine: The Ancient Wisdom of Māori Goddesses and How to Navigate Modern Life" by Hana Tapiata is a book I picked up while in New Zealand on my honeymoon in 2024, and I really wanted to connect with it more.
I don't think this is a bad book, but it wasn't what I expected. I went in expecting a general overview of Māori goddesses and their stories, similar to how Greek mythology is often retold and contextualized. Instead, the book leans much more into a reflective, self-actualization approach, using these stories through a feminist lens. I appreciated that perspective, but because I didn't have a strong foundation in Māori mythology going in, much of the content was difficult to grasp fully.
I also think the structure made it harder to engage. Having the glossary and translation guide at the beginning would have made a big difference for me, as someone unfamiliar with the language and cultural context. The guided reflection questions at the end of each section also disrupted the reading flow. I would have preferred to group those at the end rather than breaking up each chapter.
There were definitely moments I appreciated. I gained exposure to Māori mythology and saw the care and intention behind the book. But I wasn't fully drawn in, largely because I wasn't the intended audience. This book would probably work best for readers with some background knowledge on the subject and who are specifically interested in the self-reflection aspect.
So for me, this is a 2-star read, but very much a "me" issue rather than a flaw in the book itself. I'm still glad I bought it, especially because it's such a beautiful book, and I'd be open to revisiting it in the future once I have a stronger foundation of the Māori culture.
I don't think this is a bad book, but it wasn't what I expected. I went in expecting a general overview of Māori goddesses and their stories, similar to how Greek mythology is often retold and contextualized. Instead, the book leans much more into a reflective, self-actualization approach, using these stories through a feminist lens. I appreciated that perspective, but because I didn't have a strong foundation in Māori mythology going in, much of the content was difficult to grasp fully.
I also think the structure made it harder to engage. Having the glossary and translation guide at the beginning would have made a big difference for me, as someone unfamiliar with the language and cultural context. The guided reflection questions at the end of each section also disrupted the reading flow. I would have preferred to group those at the end rather than breaking up each chapter.
There were definitely moments I appreciated. I gained exposure to Māori mythology and saw the care and intention behind the book. But I wasn't fully drawn in, largely because I wasn't the intended audience. This book would probably work best for readers with some background knowledge on the subject and who are specifically interested in the self-reflection aspect.
So for me, this is a 2-star read, but very much a "me" issue rather than a flaw in the book itself. I'm still glad I bought it, especially because it's such a beautiful book, and I'd be open to revisiting it in the future once I have a stronger foundation of the Māori culture.
May 28, 2025
Not usually a fan of self-help books but this is more self guidance and I actually appreciated the exercisses included at the end of each part. Also, what a great way of sealing the real life significance of Maori cosmology in the stories as well as concrete reality. I acrually really enjoyed this. Devoured in a day.
February 22, 2025
The journaling prompts are a full body experience. The knowledge regarding Atua wāhine is informative and grounding. I’d recommend buying the book so you can come back to the prompts and purakau again and again.
March 13, 2025
What a great read. Very inspiring read for all people.
June 30, 2025
He pukapuka mīharo. I aroha au i tēnei pukapuka. 🤍
Loved reading through, and even learning different versions of pūrākau. Literally finished in 2 days 💕
Loved reading through, and even learning different versions of pūrākau. Literally finished in 2 days 💕
February 21, 2026
2.5 stars. Rating bang in the middle. Learned more about mythology of the atua, picked up new kupu and got to test what I already knew, but I was never in it for the self-actualisation side.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews