The Māori are descendants of Polynesian sailors who journeyed across the Pacific Ocean, settling in Aotearoa (New Zealand) from the 1200s through the 1300s CE. Māori tribes each tell slightly different versions of their creation story, but most have a common theme of the separation of light and dark (sky and Earth) and also share gods born of the first mother (Papa or Earth) and father (Rangi or sky).

Māori Origin Story

In the beginning, there was the darkness, nothingness. From the darkness came thought, night, and the living breath, which made the sky and Earth. The sky was called Ranginui (Rangi) and the Earth was Papatūānuku (Papa). The Moon and Sun became the eyes and light of the sky.

Rangi and Papa lay in a loving embrace that allowed no light to come between them. From their embrace six gods were born. Tangaroa was born god of the sea and Tāne Mahuta, god of forests and birds. Rongomātāne was born god of cultivated foods and Haumia-tiketike god of wild foods. Tāwhirimātea was born god of wind and weather and Tūmatauenga, god of war and humans. Papa was pregnant with a seventh child, Rūaumoko, god of earthquakes.

The sky and Earth held their children close in the darkness. As Papa moved, a sliver of light escaped and surprised the gods, who desperately wanted more space and light. The children discussed how they could separate their parents to allow them more light and space. Tūmatauenga, the god of war, suggested killing Rangi and Papa, but Tāne Mahuta proposed that they separate them instead. Only Tāwhirimātea disagreed with the separation plan.

The children each attempted to separate Rangi and Papa, but it was a difficult task. Finally, Tāne Mahuta lay upon his Earth mother and used his strong legs to push his sky father and create space and light between them. Once separated, Rangi and Papa grieved for each other. As Rangi cried tears of sorrow, the gods decided to turn Papa over to shield her from Rangi’s grief. Papa’s unborn child, Rūaumoko, was thus carried under the Earth. Rangi’s tears became the rain. Papa’s sighs became the mist that cloaks the Earth. And Rūaumoko’s movements became earthquakes.

In time, Tāne Mahuta felt something was missing. He needed a companion. He carved Hineahuone—the first woman—out of clay, and when he was done he breathed life into her. It was from Hineahuone that humankind began.