Little Maui and his Mother: From the Māori First Nation People, Part 1 of 2

It is an honor to present selections from “The Legend of Maui” in the book “Polynesian Mythology & Ancient Traditional History of the New Zealanders,” by Sir George Grey. Today, let us start with Māui’s journey to reunite with his mother and uncover the mystery surrounding his parents.

The Legend of Maui

“‘[…] From the time I was in your womb, I have heard the names of these your first-born children, as you have been calling them over until this very night, when I again heard you repeating them. In proof of this I will now recite your names to you, my brothers. You are Maui-taha, and you are Maui-roto, and you are Maui-pae, and you are Maui-waho, and as for me, I’m little Maui-the-baby, and here I am sitting before you.’ When his Mother, Taranga, heard all this, she cried out: ‘You dear little child, you are indeed my last-born, the son of my old age; therefore I now tell you your name shall be Maui-tikitiki-a-Taranga, or Maui-formed- in-the-top-knot-of-Taranga,’ and he was called by that name.

After the disputing which took place on that occasion, his mother, Taranga, called to her last-born: ‘Come here, my child, and sleep with the mother who bore you, that I may kiss you, and that you may kiss me,’ and he ran to sleep with his mother. Then his elder brothers were jealous, and began to murmur about this to each other. […]

Then the two elder brothers said to the two younger ones: ‘Never mind, let him be our dear brother; in the days of peace remember the proverb – when you are on friendly terms, settle your disputes in a friendly way […]. It is better for us, oh, brothers, to be kind to other people; these are the ways by which men gain influence in the world – by laboring for abundance of food to feed others— by collecting property to give to others, and by similar means by which you promote the good of others, so that peace spreads through the world. […] Therefore let us be careful not to foster divisions amongst ourselves, lest such wicked thoughts should finally turn us each against the other.’ Two younger brothers, when they heard this, answered: ‘Yes, yes, oh, eldest brothers of ours, you are quite right; let our murmuring end here.’”