Two powerful legends explain the origins of Aotearoa New Zealand. Still today, chants and prayers (karakia) speak of the void that preceded the darkness. They tell of humankind's origins and relationship to the land, and articulate the Maori people's genealogy by naming their ancestors.
Mother Earth and Sky Father
The first story is about Ranginui (Rangi) the Sky Father, and Papatuanuku (Papa) the Earth Mother and how they were joined. They had many children who were not in human form and, as Rangi and Papa were joined, they lived in complete darkness. Unhappy with this life, the offspring discussed how they could resolve their unsatisfactory conditions. Tumatauenga suggested they kill their parents, but Tanemahuta, the god of the forests, disagreed. He suggested they separate their parents leaving Rangi above and Papa below. One son, Tawhirimatea, father of winds and storms,did not agree and so held his breath. The other sons did their utmost to prise their parents apart, but It was not until Tanemahuta slowly rose up, pressing his shoulders against the Earth and and his feet against the Sky, did they separate.
As the light penetrated the darkness, the rest of Rangi and Papa's offspring were exposed. Tawhiri, who had been holding his breath, was jealous of his brother Tane, and became very angry. Following his father Rangi to the sky he begot his own children, the winds, rain and storms. These turbulent offspring lashed out on to the Earth, uprooting trees, churning up the seas, and disfiguring the land.
The legend is a wonderful tale of how the earth and its creatures were formed from the time of the separation of Ranginui and Papatuanuku. From the descendants of Tanemahuta, came the generations of humankind.
The next mythological tale is about the generation of Maui tikitiki a Taranga and his brothers.
How Maui fished up the North Island
Maui's brothers refused to take him out fishing, so he hid under the boards of the canoe. When they were a long way out to sea, Maui showed himself. His brothers were cross and wanted to put him back on shore, but they were too far out from land. They started to fish and gradually the canoe was filled with their catch. In the meantime, Maui fashioned his own hook from paua shell and, using a piece of his grandmother's jawbone, created a barb. However, his brothers would not give him any bait so the resourceful Maui punched his nose and covered the hook with his blood. He lowered the line and chanted a karakia, calling on the north-east and south-east winds to assist him to pull up the world.
Before long, Maui pulled up an enormous fish. He left the vessel to seek out a priest who could conduct the ritual for making an offering of thanks to the gods. He warned his brothers not to touch the fish until the appropriate ritual had been carried out. But, as soon as he left, the siblings started to scale the fish, cut pieces off it and start eating. The gods became angry and made the fish of Maui thrash about and writhe in pain. As the sun rose, the fish became solid and could not be smoothed out. This explains why much of Aotearoa is rough and mountainous. If the brothers had not touched the fish, the terrain would have been smooth and more land could have been utilised.
According to legend, the fish of Maui is the North Island of New Zealand, which is shaped like a fish. Some tribes believe that the South island is Maui's canoe and his hook is the cape at Heretaunga (Cape Kidnappers) on the east coast. The cape was once called Te matau a Maui, or Maui's Fishhook.
Further reading
Maori Myths and Tribal Legends contains wonderful accounts of the various stories that have been handed down in the oral Maori tradition. The escapades of Maui and other tales provide a colourful mythological account of the beautiful land and people of Aotearoa.
References:
Alpers, Antony. Maori Myths and Legends. (2nd edition). Auckland: Longman, 2001.
King, Michael. The Penguin History of New Zealand. Auckland: Penguin Books (NZ), 2003.
Ruth Mortimer - I am from Palmerston North, New Zealand. I am a mother of two sons, the younger of whom is autistic. Owing to the challenges of raising a ...
