At the beginning of time there stood Te Kore, unorganized potential. Light and darkness were separated from Te Kore through the application to each of the mauri, or life-giving essence. Several eons later, there appeared Father Sky (Rangi), the offspring of light and Mother Earth (Papa), the offspring of darkness. They begot children, the Maori gods. And other Spiritual beings like the Manaia.

The main gods are:

Tangaroa, god of the sea, lakes and rivers with dominion over all the creatures that live in them. Tangaroa possesses several gifts, chief of this being the art of carving.

Tāne, the God of forests and its inhabitants, especially the birds.

Tāwhirimātea, god of the winds, storms and tempest.

Rongomatāne, the god of kumara and all cultivated foods. He is also the god of peace.

Haumia, god of fernroot and nutritious wild herbs.

Rūaumoko, god of volcanoes and earthquakes.

Tūmatauenga, god of man and war.

Whiro, god of evil.

There was not much space between them. That also meant that they had no access to the light. Consequently, they lived in a barren world After much deliberation it was decided to separate them so that every one had more room. The God of the winds did not agree. Tū wanted to slay his parents, but he was persuaded by the good reasoning of the others. However, that first conflict was the cause of opposing forces entering the world: right and wrong, good and evil, health and sickness.

Only Tane was strong enough to separate his parents, despite their clinging together. Tane thrusts with all his might, which was the strength of growth. Despite his parents’ love for each other he separated them. As soon as Tane’s work was done the multitude of creatures were uncovered whom Rangi and Papa had begotten, and who never had known the light.