Rangi and Papa

Ranginui and Papatuanuku are the sky father and earth mother in the Maori mythology. The Maori people are the indigenous Polynesian people that inhabit what is now New Zealand. The story starts with Rangi and Papa who exist locked in an eternal embrace. In the cramped space between them, they give birth to a pile of children.

Their children live in this claustrophobia inducing darkness for far too long. Tumatauenga, the father of mankind and the god of war, is the fiercest of his brothers and longs to be experience light and day time. He suggests to his siblings that they slay their parents to be rid of the eternal night. Tane, father of the forests talks him down from violence and suggests instead that they push their parents apart.

Rongo, Tangoroa, and Haumia-tiketike work in combined efforts to push their parents apart but fail miserably. It falls back to clever Tane to once again rush in and save the day. After several attempts, Tane decided to try pushing up with his strong legs rather than his hands. With a mighty heave, he tosses Rangi into the heavens.

Everyone is overjoyed with this development, with the exception of Tawhirimatea, the god of storms. He is furious with his brothers for breaking up their parents. The children planned to stay with their mother, Papa, for nourishment, but Tawhiri follows Rangi into the heavens. And now, he sends his diabolical children the winds, rains, and storms to torment his brothers and their children until the end of time.