Hiku-rangi

A hill on which dwelt the god called Te Manu-i-te-ra, in his house Totoka. On this hill mortals took refuge during the deluge (of Rua-tapu). The storm beat on Hiku-rangi, and it would have fallen, but a Deliverer drank the flood and saved the remnant of men. This Deliverer is called Hine-makura, or Moa-kura, or "the son of Te Ra-ara-kai-ora." Some say that Marereao performed incantations, and made the tide go back. In the Marua-roa (about June), Te Pu-nui-o-tonga forced the water up and drowned all those people not on the hill of Hiku-rangi.

Another version relates that Paikea, by order of Rua-tapu, led the people who were to be saved to a hill called Puke-hapopo. Mahiku-rangi, the hill on which the sky rests, is probably the same place. It was the first land which appeared when Māui pulled up his "fish" (the land) above water: Ko te matua ra tena i hi ai te whenua rahi, e takoto nei; ka rewa Hikurangi, kei runga. It was known as "the Holy Mountain" in Hawaiki; upon it fell the first faint light, when the sun and moon appeared as "eyes of heaven."

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