Mangōpare: Māori, Sharks and the Powerful Connection to the Moana

Mangōpare: Māori, Sharks and the Powerful Connection to the Moana

The Shark Beneath the Surface

There is something about seeing a shark in the ocean that immediately gets your attention.

A dark shape moving beneath the surface.

A dorsal fin cutting through the water.

A sudden movement in the swell.

For surfers, divers, fishers and anyone who spends time around the coast, sharks are part of the reality of the ocean.

But in Aotearoa, the relationship between people and sharks reaches much further back than the modern experience of seeing one in the water.

For generations, Māori have lived alongside, fished for, eaten, observed and told stories about mangō.

Sharks appear in Māori traditions and whakapapa, in stories of voyaging and protection, in traditional food gathering and in expressions of courage.

They also occupy a fascinating place in contemporary Māori art and design.

One of the most recognisable is mangōpare — the Māori name associated with the hammerhead shark.

At Wai-Tai, mangōpare has become an important part of our visual language.

But before looking at the contemporary design, it is worth understanding the creature itself and the much deeper relationship between Māori and the sharks of the moana.

What Does Mangō Mean?

Mangō is the Māori word commonly used for shark.

It is a broad term, however, and Aotearoa's waters contain many different shark species, each with their own characteristics and Māori names.

The Department of Conservation records a remarkable diversity of sharks and rays around New Zealand, ranging from familiar coastal species through to sharks living in deep ocean environments.

Some species are widespread.

Others are highly specialised.

Some spend time close to shore.

Others live far offshore or at considerable depth.

For Māori communities living around the coastline, this diversity meant that sharks weren't simply one generic animal.

They were part of a detailed knowledge of the marine environment.

Different species could be recognised through their appearance, behaviour, habitat and seasonality.

This kind of knowledge was essential to anyone who depended upon the sea.

What Is Mangōpare?

Mangōpare is the Māori name associated with the hammerhead shark.

The name makes sense when you look at the animal.

The hammerhead's head extends sideways in a distinctive shape that resembles a double-ended hammer.

Te Ara identifies the hammerhead as mangōpare and notes that these sharks are regular summer visitors to North Island waters, with individuals ranging as far south as Cook Strait.

The animal itself is remarkable.

Its head shape is unlike almost any other shark.

Its eyes are positioned towards the outer ends of its broad head.

And its silhouette is instantly recognisable.

It is easy to understand why such a distinctive creature could become a powerful subject for Māori visual expression.

But the story of mangōpare is not simply about the shape of a shark.

It sits within a much wider Māori relationship with the ocean.

Māori and Sharks: A Relationship Far Older Than Modern Aotearoa

Māori ancestors arrived in Aotearoa as part of the great Polynesian voyaging world.

They were highly skilled ocean travellers who understood the behaviour of marine environments.

Sharks were therefore not distant or mysterious creatures.

They were part of the world encountered while fishing, travelling and living around the coast.

Te Ara records that Māori thought highly of sharks and that sharks appear in Māori traditions as powerful beings associated with protection, voyaging and the ocean.

That relationship could take many forms.

Sharks could be food.

They could be dangerous.

They could be respected.

They could appear in stories.

They could be associated with particular places or ancestors.

And they could become powerful metaphors for human qualities.

The relationship was therefore considerably more complex than simply being afraid of predators.

Sharks as Guardians

One of the most interesting aspects of Māori traditions involving sharks is their connection with protection.

Te Ara records traditions in which sharks appear as guardian beings and describes Māori stories where sharks assist people travelling by waka.

In one northern tradition, the ocean taniwha Ruamano could take the form of a mako shark.

According to the tradition recorded by Te Ara, when a waka overturned, those aboard could call upon Ruamano to help deliver them safely to land.

These stories give us an important insight into the way marine animals could occupy a place within Māori understandings of the ocean.

A shark wasn't necessarily simply a threat.

It could also be understood through relationships of protection, power and the wider spiritual world.

Māui and Māngōroa: The Shark in the Sky

Perhaps one of the most extraordinary Māori stories involving a shark takes us away from the ocean entirely.

Into the night sky.

Te Ara records the tradition that the demi-god Māui placed the shark Te Māngōroa in the heavens, forming the Milky Way.

Think about the imagery.

A creature associated with the ocean becomes part of the sky.

The shark is no longer simply beneath the surface.

It becomes part of the landscape above us.

This provides another beautiful connection to the navigation stories we've explored in previous Wai-Tai Journal articles.

The ancestors who travelled across the Pacific looked to the stars to help understand direction and place.

And within Māori traditions, the night sky itself could carry stories involving the creatures of the ocean.

The sea and the sky were never necessarily separate worlds.

Sharks and the Stories of the Pacific

The relationship between Māori and sharks also sits within a broader Polynesian context.

Across the Pacific, sharks have held important places in traditional knowledge and cultural traditions.

Te Ara notes that Polynesian peoples, including the ancestors of Māori, had traditions in which sharks could be understood as guardian spirits.

This makes sense within a culture shaped by the ocean.

When your ancestors travel between islands by waka, fish for food, dive, gather shellfish and depend upon marine environments, the creatures of the sea become part of your understanding of the world.

The ocean isn't simply scenery.

It is where food comes from.

It is where journeys happen.

It can be dangerous.

It can provide.

It can connect communities.

And the animals within it become part of the stories that explain people's relationship with that world.

Sharks as Kai

It is important not to romanticise the relationship between Māori and mangō.

Māori also harvested sharks for food.

Sharks were an important part of traditional diets, and Te Ara records large-scale shark fishing expeditions in which substantial numbers of sharks were caught and preserved.

This is another reminder that traditional relationships with animals don't necessarily fit neatly into modern categories such as "wildlife" versus "food."

A species could be respected and harvested.

It could be feared and relied upon.

It could be a source of nourishment while also occupying a significant place within cultural traditions.

Understanding this complexity is important.

The Mako and the Challenge of the Ocean

Not every shark is the same.

The mako is one of the most famous sharks associated with Aotearoa.

It is fast, powerful and highly adapted to open-ocean life.

Māori had specialised knowledge for catching mako, and historical accounts describe the value placed on their teeth.

That required considerable skill.

Fishing for large sharks from a waka was not a casual activity.

It required knowledge of the animal, the ocean and the equipment being used.

This gives us another perspective on traditional Māori relationships with the moana.

The people who depended upon the sea had to understand it.

And understanding the sea meant understanding the creatures that lived within it.

Sharks in Māori Expressions of Courage

Sharks also became powerful comparisons for human behaviour.

Te Ara records Māori expressions in which warriors compared themselves to sharks, particularly in contexts involving courage and how one should meet death.

The shark therefore becomes more than an animal.

It becomes an image of qualities admired in people.

Power.

Determination.

Fearlessness.

The ability to face adversity.

This is one reason shark imagery can carry such visual power.

A shark has a strong physical presence.

But the cultural meaning comes from the relationships and stories surrounding it.

Why the Hammerhead Is So Visually Powerful

The mangōpare is particularly distinctive.

Most people could recognise the silhouette of a hammerhead almost instantly.

The wide head.

The sweeping shape.

The unusual placement of the eyes.

The powerful body tapering behind it.

There is an almost graphic quality to the animal.

That makes it naturally suited to contemporary visual design.

But there is a difference between simply using a hammerhead because it looks cool and understanding why the creature can carry cultural weight.

For Wai-Tai, that distinction matters.

Mangōpare and Contemporary Māori Design

Māori visual expression has always been capable of carrying meaning.

Contemporary Māori artists and designers continue to work with forms, creatures, landscapes, stories and ideas connected to Māori identity and the natural world.

But contemporary Māori design is not simply a museum piece.

It is alive.

It changes.

It responds to the world around it.

It can appear in carving, painting, digital art, architecture, streetwear, surf culture and everyday clothing.

This is where Wai-Tai sits.

We are not attempting to recreate traditional Māori dress.

Wai-Tai is a contemporary Aotearoa brand.

Our designs are created in the present, inspired by the places, people, culture and ocean environment around us.

The Wai-Tai Mangōpare

The Wai-Tai Mangōpare design takes inspiration from the hammerhead shark and brings that powerful ocean creature into contemporary clothing.

For us, it connects naturally with the world that surrounds Wai-Tai.

The moana.

Surfing.

Fishing.

Diving.

The East Coast.

And the powerful creatures that live beneath the surface.

You can explore the Wai-Tai Mangōpare collection as part of our wider range of contemporary Māori-inspired clothing.

The design is not intended to claim that there is one universal Māori definition of mangōpare.

Instead, it is our contemporary expression inspired by the animal and the deeper ocean connections surrounding it.

That distinction is important to us.

Explore the Wai-Tai Mangōpare Collection

From the Shark in the Ocean to the Shark on the Tee

There is something interesting about what happens when an animal moves from the natural world into visual art.

The physical shark becomes a symbol.

The symbol becomes a design.

And the design can then become something someone wears.

Suddenly, an animal that spends its life moving through deep water is represented on a T-shirt walking down a city street.

That doesn't make the design the same thing as the original cultural story.

But it can provide an opportunity to start conversations.

Someone sees the Mangōpare design.

They ask what it means.

They learn about the hammerhead.

They discover the Māori relationship with sharks.

They read about the moana.

And perhaps they begin to think differently about the creatures living beneath the surface.

That is one of the things we love about clothing.

It can carry a story.

The Moana Is Home to More Than Sharks

Sharks are only one part of the marine environment.

Aotearoa's waters are home to an extraordinary range of marine life.

Rays.

Skates.

Dolphins.

Seals.

Whales.

Fish.

Seabirds.

Invertebrates.

And countless organisms most of us will never see.

Many of these species are connected through complex food webs.

Sharks sit within those systems as predators.

They are part of functioning marine ecosystems rather than separate from them.

That makes their conservation important not just because sharks are impressive animals.

It matters because healthy oceans depend upon healthy ecological relationships.

Sharks Need More Than Fearless Images

Sharks have a reputation.

Hollywood has certainly helped create it.

The word "shark" can immediately produce images of danger and attack.

But the reality is more complicated.

DOC notes that humans pose substantial threats to sharks through fishing, bycatch and other impacts, while many shark species are vulnerable because they grow slowly, mature late and produce relatively few young.

That biological vulnerability matters.

A shark population cannot necessarily recover quickly after heavy losses.

And marine ecosystems don't exist independently of what happens on land.

Pollution.

Plastic.

Fishing gear.

Coastal development.

Changes in marine productivity.

Climate change.

All can affect ocean ecosystems.

Aotearoa's Sharks Need Protection

The conservation picture in New Zealand is mixed.

DOC's latest assessment of chondrichthyans — sharks, rays and chimaeras — identified four species as Threatened, one as At Risk, 52 as Not Threatened, five as Non-resident Native and 51 as Data Deficient.

That last category is important.

Data deficient does not mean safe.

It means there isn't enough information to confidently determine the species' conservation status.

For some sharks, we still have much to learn.

Great white sharks, for example, are classified as Threatened – Nationally Endangered in Aotearoa and Vulnerable globally. They have been protected in New Zealand waters since 2007.

Basking sharks are even more concerning.

DOC classifies them as Threatened – Nationally Critical, and they are listed as Endangered globally.

These aren't abstract conservation statistics.

They tell us something about the health of the ocean we live beside.

What Can Surfers, Fishers and Ocean Users Do?

You don't need to be a marine biologist to help protect sharks.

DOC recommends carefully releasing unwanted sharks and rays when fishing and taking steps to minimise entanglement and injury. It also warns against leaving fishing gear or plastic waste in the ocean.

For people who spend time around the water, some of the simplest actions matter:

Take your rubbish home

Fishing line, nylon and plastic can injure or kill marine animals.

Respect wildlife

If you encounter marine life, give it space.

Release unwanted catches carefully

Follow current fisheries regulations and best-practice handling guidance.

Learn what you're looking at

Being able to identify species makes you more aware of the environment around you.

Pay attention to the ocean

The more you understand the moana, the easier it becomes to appreciate what is at stake.

Mangōpare and Kaitiakitanga

This brings us back to kaitiakitanga.

We've explored kaitiakitanga in earlier Wai-Tai Journal articles, but it becomes especially tangible when we think about the animals beneath the surface.

If the moana is part of our life, then what happens to the moana matters.

If sharks are part of that ecosystem, then their future matters.

If we depend on the ocean for food, recreation, culture and connection, then caring for it isn't someone else's job.

It belongs to all of us.

That doesn't mean every person has exactly the same role.

It means recognising our relationship with the natural environment and acting accordingly.

Read: Kaitiakitanga and the Māori Relationship with the Moana

A Shark Is More Than a Predator

Perhaps the biggest lesson from the Māori relationship with mangō is that the shark can be understood in many different ways at once.

It can be:

A predator.

A source of kai.

A challenge for a fisherman.

A guardian.

A character in ancestral traditions.

A celestial image.

A metaphor for courage.

A powerful design.

And a living part of the marine ecosystem.

None of these necessarily cancels out the others.

That complexity is what makes the relationship so interesting.

Why Mangōpare Belongs in Contemporary Aotearoa

Contemporary Māori identity doesn't exist separately from the modern world.

It is lived today.

It can be expressed through language.

Through art.

Through music.

Through sport.

Through surfing.

Through business.

Through fashion.

And through the way people connect with their environment.

A mangōpare design on a contemporary T-shirt is therefore not an attempt to freeze Māori culture in the past.

It is one small example of how Māori-inspired visual language can continue to evolve in modern Aotearoa.

At Wai-Tai, that is exactly the space we want to occupy.

Contemporary.

Ocean-connected.

East Coast influenced.

Proudly Aotearoa.

The Ocean Connection

For anyone who surfs, the relationship with the moana is immediate.

You paddle out.

You sit on your board.

You wait.

Underneath you is an environment you can barely see.

There might be fish moving beneath the surface.

There might be rays cruising over the bottom.

There might be dolphins further offshore.

And somewhere in the wider ocean ecosystem, there may be sharks.

That doesn't mean you should be afraid.

It means you're entering a living environment.

The ocean isn't a swimming pool.

It is a complex ecosystem that existed long before us.

And the more we understand it, the more respect it deserves.

Mangōpare: A Story That Keeps Moving

The hammerhead shark has travelled a long way.

From the deep and coastal waters of the Pacific.

Into the knowledge of Māori communities.

Into stories and expressions.

Into the visual imagination of artists.

And now into contemporary clothing.

At Wai-Tai, the Mangōpare design is part of that ongoing journey.

It is inspired by a powerful creature of the moana and by the ocean environment that continues to shape our lives.

But the story doesn't end with the design.

The real mangō is still out there.

Moving through the ocean.

Hunting.

Travelling.

Living.

And playing its part in the marine ecosystem.

That's why the most important thing we can do is keep the connection alive.

Learn about the creature.

Understand its place in the moana.

Respect the environment.

And protect the ocean for those who come after us.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Mangōpare mean?

Mangōpare is a Māori name associated with the hammerhead shark. The name relates to the distinctive shape of the animal's head, which resembles a double-ended hammer.

What is a Mangō?

Mangō is the Māori word commonly used for shark. Aotearoa is home to many different shark species, and individual species have their own Māori names.

What is the Māori relationship with sharks?

Māori relationships with sharks have included fishing and harvesting for food, detailed knowledge of shark species and behaviour, and traditions in which sharks appear as powerful or protective beings. Sharks also appear in stories, metaphors and expressions.

Are sharks important in Māori traditions?

Yes. Sharks appear in a number of Māori traditions and stories. Te Ara records traditions in which sharks are associated with guardianship, voyaging and protection, while the shark Te Māngōroa is associated with the Milky Way in Māori tradition.

What is Māngōroa?

Māngōroa is the name associated with a shark in Māori tradition that Māui placed in the heavens, forming the Milky Way.

Are hammerhead sharks found around New Zealand?

Yes. Te Ara records hammerhead sharks, known as mangōpare or kakere, as regular summer visitors to North Island waters, with their range extending as far south as Cook Strait.

Are sharks endangered in New Zealand?

The conservation status differs considerably between species. DOC's latest assessment identifies some sharks as Threatened or At Risk, while many others are currently classified as Not Threatened or Data Deficient.

Are great white sharks protected in New Zealand?

Yes. Great white sharks are protected under the Wildlife Act and Fisheries Act in New Zealand waters. DOC currently classifies them as Threatened – Nationally Endangered.

Explore More of The Wai-Tai Journal

If you've enjoyed learning about mangōpare and the Māori relationship with sharks, continue exploring the wider story of the moana through our other articles.

Māori Ocean Navigation: How Waka, Stars and the Natural World Guided Voyagers

Explore how Māori and Polynesian navigators used stars, swells, winds, birds and environmental knowledge to cross the Pacific.

Māori Navigation and the Stars: Matariki, Te Kapehu Whetū and Reading the Night Sky

Discover how celestial knowledge formed one part of a sophisticated system of traditional navigation.

Maramataka: The Māori Lunar Calendar and the Rhythm of the Natural World

Explore the relationship between the moon, seasons, environmental observation and life in Aotearoa.

Kaitiakitanga and the Māori Relationship with the Moana

Learn more about guardianship, responsibility and our relationship with the natural environment.

Surfing and Māori Culture: A Connection That Spans Centuries

Explore the deep connections between Māori, waka, fishing, diving, surfing and the moana.

Explore the Wai-Tai Mangōpare

The Wai-Tai Mangōpare design brings the hammerhead shark into a contemporary Aotearoa setting.

Inspired by the powerful presence of mangōpare and our connection with the moana, the design forms part of the wider Wai-Tai range of contemporary Māori-inspired clothing.

Explore the Wai-Tai Mangōpare Collection →

Discover more from Wai-Tai, including our Māori T-shirts, heavyweight hoodies, boardshorts, rash tops and other designs inspired by Aotearoa and the ocean.

The Shark Beneath the Surface

The next time you see a shark's fin moving through the ocean, remember that there is much more to mangō than the fear they can inspire.

For Māori, sharks have been part of the ocean story for generations.

They have been food.

They have been powerful creatures.

They have appeared in stories of protection and voyaging.

They have been compared with warriors.

They have entered the night sky.

And they continue to move through the waters of Aotearoa today.

Mangōpare carries a small part of that story into the modern world.

For Wai-Tai, it is a contemporary expression of our connection to the moana — the same ocean that surrounds our coastline, inspires our designs and continues to shape life in Aotearoa.

Because ultimately, the story of mangōpare isn't just about a shark.

It is about our relationship with the ocean.

And that relationship is worth protecting.

Wai-Tai Aotearoa — inspired by the moana, the East Coast and the stories that connect us to this place.

Sources and further reading

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