AOTEAROA.

Kiaora koutou, nau mai haere mai.
I hope this post finds you and your whanau in the very best of health.....

A man who became a mountain....
A pakiwaitara from the tribal areas of Ngai Tahu.



In the beginning there was only darkness. Out of the darkness came Maku{moisture},who married Mahoranuiatea,and they had a son called Raki.

Raki married Pokoharuatepo and their sons were; Aoraki[Cloud in the Sky},Rakiroa{Long Raki},Rakirua{Raki the second} and Rarakiroa{Long Unbroken Line}. They all lived in a special place in the heavens where they had everything they could want. One day it was revealed that Raki had fallen in love with another woman,Papatuanuku. Raki descended from his home in the heavens to the earth, where he married his new love. Pokoharuatepo was extremely upset and could not be consoled.

Aoraki and his three brothers became angry because of what their father had done to their mother and they decided to visit Papatuanuku. Thay climbed into their canoe called Te Waka o Aoraki and descended,sailing across a great ocean called Te Waonui a Takaroa{The Great Ocean of Takaroa}.
Aoraki and his brothers journeyed for a long,long time until they found the new wife ot their father.
They gazed at Papatuanuku as she lay across the ocean with their father and realised their father was really in love with her.

Aoraki and his brothers decided that they should return home to comfort their mother,who had remained in the heavens. Aoraki stood in his waka and began the sacred chant that would make the canoe rise. Unfortunately he made a mistake and instead of returning, Aoraki and his brothers remained on earth. Strong winds began to blow and the sea began to rise. Aoraki and his brothers panicked when they realised they were stranded on earth. The storm become stronger and the canoe turned on its side. Aoraki and his brothers climbed onto the side of the canoe and waited for someone to come and rescue them. They waited for a long,long time,but no one came. Slowly,as time passed,their hair turned white and their bodies became as hard as stone.

Eventually they all became snow capped mountains. Aoraki,the tuakana-eldest of the four brothers,became the tallest peak and is known today by its name,whilist his brothers became the mountain ranges known as Tiritiri o Te Moana - The Southern Alps.

Their waka is often referred to as Te Waipounamu{The Greenstone Waters},but this ancient name that Ngai Tahu ancestors gave the South Island was Te Waka o Aoraki.

Personalities in this story

Maku and Mahoranuiatea
* Parents of Raki
* Grandparents of Aoraki,Rakiroa,Rakirua,Rarakiroa

Raki
* Son of Maku and Mahoranuiatea
* Husband to Pokoharuatepo
* Lover of Papatuanuku
* Father of Aoraki,Rakiroa,Rakirua,Rarakiroa

Pokoharuatepo
* Wife of Raki
* Mother of Aoraki.Rakiroa,Rakirua,Rarakiroa

Papatuanuku
* Lover of Raki

Aoraki
* Mokopuna of Maku and Mahoranuiatea
* Eldest son of Raki and Pokoharuatepo
* Eldest brother{tuakana}of Rakiroa,Rakirua and Rarakiroa

Rakiroa, Rakirua, Rarakiroa

* Mokopuna of Maku and Mahoranuiatea
* Younger sons of Raki and Pokoharuatepo
* Younger brothers of Aoraki.

Deeds

* Along with his brothers sailed his waka {Te Waka o Aoraki} from the heavens across the ocean Te Waonui a Takaroa to find his father
* Showed compassion for his father Raki and hie new lover Papatuanuku
* Made a mistake in karakia when returning to the heavens
* Remained with his brothers and waka here in Aotearoa

Outcomes

* The waka belonging to Aoraki became the South Island - Te Waka o Aoraki or Te Waipounamu
* Aoraki became Aoraki Muanga {or Mt Cook,as it is also known}
* His brothers became Te Tiritiri o te Moana Maunga {or The Southern Alps,as they are also known}


Conclusion

The stories and histories of Nga Atua Maori teach us that every living thing in existence has a mauri{life force}and is connected in some way. The mauri taiaho,or cosmic vibration given from Io,is the essence of an ancient origin. Atua and humankind link together with a common genealogy that spiritually binds them. These are Maori genesis,histories - whakapapa.

Each iwi has retained their traditions over the centuries using unique oral history that captures the essence and spirituality of humankind working together with Atua. From Kahukura,northern tribes acquired the skills of net making,to Kahukura of the East Coast tribes who mastered the natural elements of the environment.

Hinerauamoa of the Tuhoe people initiated the arts of weaving,both passing down traditional skills and knowledge assisting humankind to master the use of natural elements.

Today tribute is still given to respective Atua in many forms and shapes. Papatuanuku and Ranginui are recognised as the founders of human genesis via the conception and birth of Atua. Reference is still made to this realm which existed long before the creation of the world and humankind. Examples of this can be heard in whaikorero - 'Haere ki te pouriuri, haere ki te potangtango'.

Protocols and customs have evolved as a result of the exploits and lessons learnt from Nga Atua deeds i.e. the ceremonies of returning the first fruit of kumara to Kahukura,acknowledging his gift to humankind and his role as the creator of the plant. These protocols have been repeated many times in the way we acknowledge those who teach,care,create and lead - acknowledging their gifts and the source of their skills and inspiration.

Evolution for Maori as a people is scripted in whakapapa. The names,events,and exploits of Atua are handed down through generations,symbols intricately woven as strands of history.

Our whakapapa is the spiritual connection and link to the cosmos.

Noho ora mai..