who had Para-whenua-mea, the personification of flood-waters. He took Hine-wao-riki, who produced the kahika and matai, forest-trees. He took Momuhanga, who had the totara, a forest-tree. He took Tukapua, who had the tawai, a forest-tree. He took Mangonui, who had the tawa and hinau, forest-trees. He took Te Pu-whakahara (said to be the name of a star), who had the maire. He took Rerenoa, who produced the rata. He took Ruru-tangi-akau, who produced the rata. He took Rerenoa, who produced the kotuku-tuku, the patate, as also all kinds of insects. He took Tutoro-whenua, who produced the aruhe (fern-root).

In like manner, Hine-mahanga was the origin of the tutu shrub; Tawake-toro, of the manuka; Huna, of the harakeke (flax); Tawhara-nui, of the kiekie.

(Other accounts state that Tane took to wife one Kura-waka, grandchild of Tiki.)

After Tane had long searched for a female by whom he might produce man, he went to Rangi and asked, “Kei hea te uha” (Where is the female)? And Rangi replied, “Kei raro te whare o aitua e hamama ana, i runga ko te whare tena o te ora, kei raro te uha.” Then Tane took Hine-rauamoa and begat man. They had Rongo, who is the personification of peace and the tutelary deity of cultivation and the husbandman. They had Hine-te-iwaiwa, who is the tutelary deity of the art of weaving; and Tangaroa, the Polynesian Neptune, who rules the ocean and the denizens thereof; and Tu, god of war; and Tawhirimatea, who holds the winds; and Ioio-whenua, and Putehue. The latter had Makara, who had Mahuika and Hine-i-tapeka, the origin and deities of fire.

Tane and his brethren dwelt in the primal home Auroroa. In the days of Maui Mataora was the home. In the days of Rongoatau it was Hawaiki-nui.

The Maori of yore traced his descent primarily from chaos and space, before the world was, through Rangi and Papa; and later through the personifications of the elements of fire and water, as also the sun, stars, and moon.

Sex originated in the far-distant past when chaos obtained, long ages before Rangi and Papa. The first two beings were Te Pu and Te More; the former was of the male sex, the latter of the female. They became one and were inseparable. They possessed the two names, but these were applied to the one being.