Hurihuri- Turn Already Ancient Aotearoa

According to some whakapapa (Maori cosmology) the sky (Rangi) cohabited with the earth (Papa) who was already the wife of Tangaroa the sea. She was seduced by the sky. They had a child whom they called Tāne nui-a-rangi, ‘Tāne-great of the heavens.’ The family thereupon decided that the sun should be allowed to shine through the armpit of the sky. ‘Tāne-great of the heavens’ said, ‘The light shines above.’ He then said, ‘Let us raise our father above and leave the female, Papa, as our parent to be below.’ The other gods joined in and said, ‘Raise him up, separate the two. Let the female be set apart, let the male be set apart so that we may prosper in the world.’ Hence, the sky stands above and the earth lies below. During this time there was great upset. It was when Rūaumoko the unborn god of tectonic activity produced forth the Aotea stone. Aotea's colours reflected the unity of Earth, Sea and sky. Peace and calm returned to the...