This carving represents the relationship between the children of Tane (god of the forest) and those of Tangaroa (god of the ocean).
Punga was the son of Tangaroa and the father of Ikatere and Tu Te Wehiwehi.
Ikatere was the father of fishes and Tu Te Wehiwehi, the father of lizards.
The children of Tu Te Wehiwehi were given the choice to live on land or sea. They chose to live on land and thrived amongst the forests and the children of Tane, who gave them them shelter and food.
This piece illustrates the concept of thriving beyond one's natural habitat or comfort zone.
