# The Legend of Māui explained — Polynesian Mythology

> Chapter companion for Polynesian Mythology by George Grey.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/polynesian_mythology_se/chapters/the-legend-of-m-ui
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/polynesian_mythology_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/polynesian_mythology_se/chapters