The Maori creation story describes how Rangi (Heaven) and Papa (Earth) were originally joined closely together, keeping the world in darkness. They had six sons: Tane-mahuta (forests), Tawhirimatea (winds and storms), Tangaroa (fish and reptiles), Tu-matauenga (humans), Haumia-tikitiki (uncultivated food), and Rongomatane (cultivated food). According to the story, these beings lived in darkness for a long time, unable to experience light.

1. By: Brianna Clemente, 1/17/12 Period 4th Culture and Geography Source: George Grey, 1956, Polynesian Mythology( ed. by William W. Bird): Christchurch, Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd., 250 p. (Bl 2615.G843p 1956); and Mr.Ruben Meza, 2012 Contemporary Traditional Maori Culture, part 2 "The Maori Creation Story: The Separation of Heaven and Earth"

2. According to the Maori tradition " All humans are descended from one pair of ancestors, Rangi and Papa, who are also called Heaven and Earth

3. In those days, Heaven and Earth clung closely together, and all was darkness.

4. Rangi and Papa had six sons: 1 Tane-mahuta, the father of the forests and their inhabitants.

5. Tawhirimatea, the father of winds and storms.

6. Tangaroa, father offish and reptiles.

7. Tu-matauenga, father of fierce human beings.

8. Haumia-tikitiki, the father of food that grows without cultivation

9. And the Rongomatane, the father of cultivated food.

10. In the begging these six sons and all other beings lived in darkness for an extremely long time, able only to wonder what light and vision might be like.