Maori Myth of Creation

In the beginning, there was just emptiness. The Maori called this “Te kore”
(Nothingness) There is no light, no darkness.

Two gods appeared in this 'emptiness’. They were Ranginui, the sky father, and
Papatūānuku, the earth mother. They embraced so closely that the earth and sky
were joined together. As a result, they had six children and their children are born
between them. They were Tane (god of the forest), Tangoroa (god of the sea), Tu
(god of war), Rongo (god of crops), Haumia (god of the wild plants) and Tawhiri
(god of weather).

Ranginui and Papatūānuku held each other so closely that there was no space
between the earth and the sky. There was no room for their children to move about.
They could only crawl about or just lay on their sides.

When Papatūānuku raised her arm, the Earth and sky parted for a short time, and
the children had a glimpse of sunshine. When they saw it, they wanted more, so
they began to think of ways of creating more sunlight.

Tane wanted to separate his parents to allow the light to come through. Tawhiri
(god of weather) was the only sibling who disagreed. He was very close to his
father, the sky god. Each child struggled to pull the earth and sky apart, since their
embrace was too strong.

Tu, the god of war, then decided that the only way to pull his parents apart was to
cut off the arms of Ranginui. Tane then pushed his parents apart, causing them to
be separated. He then used wooden poles to support his father in the sky.

The earth and sky were now separated forever. The sad Ranginui and Papatūānuku
cried tears that fell as from the sky and mist from the earth.

The world has been created.