Rangi (Heaven) and Papa (Earth) were the original ancestors of all humans according to Māori creation beliefs. They were joined closely together in the beginning, leaving the world in darkness. Rangi and Papa had six sons: Tane-matauenga who fathered inhabitants, Tawhiri-ma-tea who fathered winds and storms, Tangaroa who fathered fish and reptiles, Tu-matauenga who fathered fierce humans, Haumia-tikitiki who fathered uncultivated food, and Rongo-ma-tane who fathered cultivated food.

1. contemporary Traditional Maori Culture, part 2 "The Maori Creation Story: The separation of Heaven and earth" By Antonio Vasquez, 1-23-12 period 6 Culture and Geography Source: George Grey, 1956, Polynesion Mythology (ed. by William W. Bird): Christchurch,Whitcombe and tombs Ltd., 250 p. (BL 2615.G843 1956); and Mr Ruben Meza, 2012

2. All human 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 and six sons: (1) Tane-matauenga,the father of fierce inhabitants

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

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

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

8. (5) Haumia-tikitiki, the fatherof food that grows without cultivation

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