Rangi and Papa

Papa and Rangi held each other in a tight embrace

In Māori mythology the primal couple Rangi and Papa (or Ranginui and Papatūānuku) appear in a creation myth explaining the origin of the world and the Māori people^[1] (though there are many different versions). In some South Island dialects, Rangi is called Raki or Rakinui.^[2]

^ Leeming, David (2013). The World of Myth: An Anthology (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199316366.
^ This article is based largely on the writings of a Te Arawa chief, Wiremu Maihi Te Rangikāheke, who is the author of much of the material in George Grey’s Nga Mahi a nga Tupuna (Grey 1971), originally published in 1853 and later translated into English as Polynesian Mythology (Grey 1956). It should be understood that the version presented here represents just one Māori creation myth among many variants.

[1] Leeming, David (2013). The World of Myth: An Anthology (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199316366.

[2] This article is based largely on the writings of a Te Arawa chief, Wiremu Maihi Te Rangikāheke, who is the author of much of the material in George Grey’s Nga Mahi a nga Tupuna (Grey 1971), originally published in 1853 and later translated into English as Polynesian Mythology (Grey 1956). It should be understood that the version presented here represents just one Māori creation myth among many variants.

[1]

[2]