Māori creation stories

Māori creation stories explain how the world and its people came into being. Central to these narratives is the story of Ranginui (Sky Father) and Papatūānuku (Earth Mother), whose tightly embraced presence symbolized chaos and unity. Their children, including Tāne Mahuta, the forest god, and Tangaroa, the sea god, navigated conflicts to bring light, land, and life into existence. These stories highlight interconnectedness, respecting nature’s elements, and the origins of life, emphasizing that humans are part of a larger spiritual framework rooted in the natural world.