A little Maori Story
The first parents were Ranginui (Sky Father) and Papatuanuku (Earth Mother), whose children existed in darkness between them until Tane pushed his parents apart to let light into the world.
We are related to the world about us through the children of Ranginui and Papatuanuku. Tane is the atua (God) responsible for forests and the birds and insects that live on the land, and also for people and their knowledge of the world. Tangaroa is the god of sea, his children are the fish of sea and fresh water.
The first parents were Ranginui (Sky Father) and Papatuanuku (Earth Mother), whose children existed in darkness between them until Tane pushed his parents apart to let light into the world.
We are related to the world about us through the children of Ranginui and Papatuanuku. Tane is the atua (God) responsible for forests and the birds and insects that live on the land, and also for people and their knowledge of the world. Tangaroa is the god of sea, his children are the fish of sea and fresh water.
Other imoprtant atua are Rongo (responsible for cultivated plants and also peace), Haumiatiketike (god or aruhe of fern root), Tawhirimatea (god of winds) and Tumateuenga (god of war).
Respect must be shown to the relevant God before beginning any enterprise, such as taking food from the sea or forest, planting crops or starting out on a war extepedition.
Atua may also refer to other supernatral beings or spirits , which might have a bening or maliciuos influence on individual or groups.
"We treat our artworks as people because many of them represent our ancestors who for us are real persons. though they died generations ago they live in our memories and we live with them, for they are an essential part of our identity as Maori individuals. They are our anchor points in our genealogies and in our history. Without them we have no position in society and we have no social reality. We form with them the social universe of Maoridom"
Hirini Moko Maed, Ngati Awa
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