According to Maori tradition, Rangi and Papa (Heaven and Earth) were the original ancestors of all humans. They clung closely together in the beginning, leaving the world in darkness. Rangi and Papa had six sons - Tane-mahuta (father of the forest), Tawhiri-ma-tea (father of winds and storms), Tangoroa (father of fish and reptiles), Tu-matauenga (father of fierce humans), Haumia-tikitiki (father of uncultivated food), and Rongo-ma-tane (father of cultivated food). After a battle between the sons, Tu-matauenga ate four of his brothers but spared

1. Contemporary Maori Culture, Part 2 "The Maori Creation Story of Heaven and Earth" By: Cristina Guzman, January 29,2012 Per:6 Culture and Geograpgy

2. (According to 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 forest and their inhabitants.

5. (2) Tawhiri-ma-tea the father of winds and storms.

6. (3) Tangoroa, the father of fish and reptiles.

7. (4) Tu-matauenga, the father of fierce human beings.

8. (5) Haumia-tikitiki, the father of food a that grows without cultivation.

9. (8) and Rongo-ma-tane, the father of cultivated food.

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

11. After a battle between the six sons, Tu-matauenga ate 4 of his brothers as food, sparing Tawhiri-ma-tea, the father of winds and storms.

12. This is why today people are fierce and have war, why people eat plants and animals, and why there are storms.