Polynesian Mythology · Chapter
The Legend of Māui explained
Māui discovers his mother Taranga and his brothers, learns of his birth and survival, seeks his father Makeatutara, and attempts to conquer death by entering Hinenuitepō.
What happens
Māui discovers his mother Taranga and his brothers, learns of his birth and survival, seeks his father Makeatutara, and attempts to conquer death by entering Hinenuitepō. The water-wagtail's laughter wakes the goddess, causing Māui's death and the introduction of mortality to humanity.
Themes in this chapter
Origin and Cosmogony
The chapter explains the origin of death and the establishment of mortality for humanity.
Heroism and Nobility
Māui's daring quest to conquer death and his earlier feats demonstrate his heroic nature.
Characters to notice
- Māui
The trickster hero who seeks his parents, performs great feats, and attempts to defeat death.
- Hinenuitepō
The goddess of death whom Māui tries to pass through; she kills him when awakened.
- Tamanuiterā
The sun, whom Māui subdued by slowing his journey and weakening his heat.
- Māuitaha
One of Māui's older brothers, named during the dance in the House of Assembly.
Key passages
“Thus died this Māui we have spoken of; but before he died he had children, and sons were born to him; some of his descendants yet live in Hawaiki, some in Aotearoa (or in these islands); the greater part of his descendants remained in Hawaiki, but a few of them came here to Aotearoa.”
Māui died but left descendants, some in Hawaiki and some in New Zealand, linking his lineage to both homelands.
Connects Māui's legacy to the settlement of New Zealand.
“According to the traditions of the Māori, this was the cause of the introduction of death into the world (Hinenuitepō being the goddess of death: if Māui had passed safely through her, then no more human beings would have died, but death itself would have been destroyed), and we express it by saying, 'The water-wagtail laughing at Māui-tikitiki-o-Taranga made Hinenuitepō squeeze him to death.'”
Māui's death at the hands of Hinenuitepō, caused by the water-wagtail's laughter, introduced death into the world.
Explains the mythological origin of mortality.