Tawhirimatea- the god of winds
Origins of the weather
Tāwhirimātea
While the Māori word for weather is rangi (also meaning sky), in Māori tradition the deity who controls the weather is Tāwhirimātea.
In the creation story, the children of Ranginui (the sky father) and Papatūānuku (the earth mother) wished to separate their parents so that light could come into the world. The only brother who did not agree to this was Tāwhirimātea, the god of wind and storms. When Ranginui and Papatūānuku were separated, he ascended to the sky to be with his father. Together they plotted revenge against the other brothers. At this time Tāwhirimātea began to produce his numerous offspring.
The four winds
Tāwhirimātea sent away his wind children: one to the north (tūāraki), one to the south (tonga), one to the east (marangai) and one to the west (hauāuru). The direction to which each child was sent became the name of that wind.
Clouds
Tāwhirimātea then sent forth a variety of clouds, including Aonui (dense clouds), Aopōuri (dark clouds), Aowhētuma (fiery clouds), Aowhēkere (clouds which precede hurricanes), Aokanapanapa (clouds reflecting glowing red light), Aopakakina (clouds wildly drifting from all quarters and wildly bursting), Aopakarea (clouds of thunderstorms), and Aotakawe (clouds hurriedly flying).
Tāwhirimātea attacks his brothers
To take revenge on his brothers, Tāwhirimātea first attacked Tāne Mahuta – the god of the forest, who had separated Rangi and Papa. The mighty trees of Tāne’s domain were snapped in the middle and fell to the ground. Then Tāwhirimātea attacked Tangaroa, the god of the sea, causing the waves to grow as tall as mountains. After this he turned on Rongomātāne, whose domain was cultivated food and the kūmara (sweet potato), and Haumia-tikitiki, god of fern root and uncultivated food. To escape, they hid within their mother Papatūānuku. That is why kūmara and fern root burrow into the earth.
Rain, hail and dew
During this time, Tāwhirimātea also released Uanui (terrible rain), Uaroa (long continued rain) and Uawhatu (fierce hail-storms). Their offspring were Haumaringi (mist), Haumarotoroto (heavy dew), and Tōmairangi (light dew).
Tāwhirimātea and Tūmatauenga
Tāwhirimātea finally attacked Tūmatauenga, the god of war and of humans. Tūmatauenga stood firm and endured the fierce weather his brother sent. He developed incantations to cause favourable winds, and tūā (charms or spells) to bring fair weather to the heavens. But because neither brother can win, Tāwhirimātea continues to attack people in storms and hurricanes, trying to destroy them on sea and land.
Some ideas to discuss and think about:
Why is Tawhirimatea described as a god and not a God? Why is a lower case letter used?
What does the word deity mean?
A lot of people know Rangi and Papa, and Tangaroa and Tane Mahuta- but who are Haumia tikitiki and Rongomatane (Rongo) ?
What are the names the four winds- North, South, East and West in Maori?
source: teara.govt.nz
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