The Maori creation story describes how Rangi (Heaven) and Papa (Earth) were originally joined together in darkness. They had six sons: Tane-mahuta (forests), Tawhiri-ma-tea (winds), Tangaroa (sea life), Tu-matauenga (humans), Haumia-tikitiki (uncultivated food), and Rongo-ma-tane (cultivated food). After a battle between the sons, Tu-matauenga ate four brothers but spared Tawhiri-ma-tea, explaining modern humans' fierce nature and the existence of storms.

1. The Maori :Creation Story Contemporary Tradition Maori Culture , part2 The Maori Creation story : The Separation of Heaven and Earth Paige Boyle 01.19.12 period : 6 Culture & 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, 2010

2. (According to Maori Tradition)"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 had six sons:(1) Tane-mahuta, the father of the forests and thier inhabitants";

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

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

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

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

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

10. "In the beginning 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

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