The Māori people are the indigenous Polynesian people of Aotearoa, also known as New Zealand. The Māori have a rich mythology and belief system that includes many gods and supernatural beings. One of the most important Māori gods associated with birds is Tāne Mahuta.
Tāne Mahuta
In Māori mythology, Tāne Mahuta is the god of the forests and birds. He is one of the most significant gods in the Māori pantheon and is revered as the progenitor of the human race. Tāne is also considered to be the separator of his parents Ranginui the sky father and Papatūānuku the earth mother, which brought light and life to the world according to Māori legend.
As the god of the forests, Tāne Mahuta is associated with trees, plants and birds. Māori traditions state that Tāne ascended to the highest heaven and returned with three baskets of knowledge, including the knowledge of birds. Tāne breathed life into the birds and taught them to sing, thus becoming their guardian. This is why birds are considered messengers of Tāne in Māori culture.
The kererū or New Zealand wood pigeon holds special significance for Tāne Mahuta. It is considered a sacred bird that spreads the seeds of the forest. According to myth, Tāne hid the secret of fire in the wings of the kererū. The iridescent feathers under the kererū’s wings reflect the glow of fire. The cooing of the kererū is said to be the voice of Tāne.
Other birds closely linked with Tāne Mahuta include:
- Kākā – Forest parrot
- Kākāriki – Small parakeet
- Korimako – Bellbird
- Pīwakawaka – Fantail
- Ruru – Morepork owl
- Tūī – Parson bird
These birds help pollinate the trees and spread seeds through the forest, supporting Tāne’s role as god of the forests. They are seen as helpers, messengers and manifestations of Tāne due to their connection to the forest realm.
Tāne Mahuta in Māori Culture
As the god of forests and birds, Tāne Mahuta holds great significance in Māori culture:
- Carved poles and figures of Tāne adorned Māori whare and pā sites as guardians.
- Tāne’s sacred bird the kererū was hunted only for special occasions due to its cultural value.
- Feathers of forest birds were used in ceremonial cloaks, headdresses and ornaments as symbols of Tāne.
- Forest products like timber, plants and birds were used by tohunga for rongoā Māori or traditional Māori medicine.
- Karakia and waiata invoking Tāne were used when gathering forest resources and catching birds.
- passer=”Tāne”>Great forest trees are seen as physical manifestations of Tāne supporting the sky.
- Forest birds guide Māori to resources and warn of danger through their calls and flight patterns.
Even today, birds remain taonga or treasured gifts from Tāne Mahuta in Māori culture. Their sounds, feathers and habitat in the forest are deemed sacred. Sustainable harvesting, conservation efforts and cultural revitalization programs continue to connect modern Māori with the nature god Tāne and his avian realm.
Other Māori Gods Associated with Birds
While Tāne Mahuta is the primary god connected with birds, especially forest birds, other Māori gods and mythological figures also have avian associations:
Rūaumoko
God of earthquakes, seasons and weather. Storm petrel seabirds are his messengers.
Whaitiri
Goddess of thunder. Owns a destructive lightning bird called Te Ao Marama.
Paikea
Legendary whale rider who was guided by the albatross Kuia in his journey to Aotearoa.
Tāwhaki
A trickster demigod who could transform into a hawk.
Tinirau
A polymorphic ancestral god associated with the kūkupa or New Zealand pigeon.
Matuku
Ancestral heron god of freshwater wetlands and the ancestor of matuku herons.
Hakawai
Giant eagle god who carried off men and children to its eyrie according to Māori legend.
While these avian associations exist in traditional Māori narratives, Tāne Mahuta remains the foremost bird god figure in the Māori pantheon.
The Importance of Birds in Māori Culture
Birds hold a distinctive place in Māori culture and are seen as spiritual messengers of the gods, particularly Tāne Mahuta. Specific reasons why birds are culturally significant include:
- Birds connect the earthly and spiritual realms through their ability to traverse land, sea and air.
- Bird calls, flight patterns and feathers act as signs according to Māori tradition.
- As kaitiaki or guardians, birds help maintain the mauri or life force of forests and people.
- Birds pollinate plants and disperse seeds, supporting the health of forests.
- Birds provided food, feathers and bones for material and spiritual sustenance.
- Drawing on bird characteristics in dance performances embodies their mana or power.
To the Māori, birds represent the link between Rangi and Papa, the sky father and earth mother, hence their sacred status as messengers of the atua or gods. Their special connection with Tāne Mahuta, god of the forests and progenitor of humanity, further cements the deep cultural significance of birds in the Māori belief system.
Conclusion
In summary, the Māori god most closely associated with birds is Tāne Mahuta, the deity of forests and the ancestor of humankind. As god of the forest realm, Tāne holds dominion over the birds within, especially forest dwellers like the kererū, kākā and korimako. Māori culture deeply values birds for the material gifts and spiritual knowledge they impart from the heavens. Although other Māori gods have minor avian symbolism as well, Tāne Mahuta remains the primary guardian and progenitor of all feathered creatures, particularly the native birds of Aotearoa.
