Kū-mea-te-pō

At the time of the birth of Roiroi-whenua (who by some is thought to be Tangaroa), a kind of "deluge of darkness" fell upon the earth, and blackened all the world, so that men perished because they could not get food or firewood. Some, however, had been warned to procure supplies beforehand, and were saved till the light returned.

The darkness was caused by the Powers of Night, called Kū-mea-te-pō, Kū-mea-te-ao, and Unumia-te-kore, these holding the sun.

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References

Sources

  • Tregear, Edward. (1891). Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary. Wellington: Government Printer, pp. 182-183.
  • Wohlers, J. F. H. (1875). "Mythology and Tradition of the Maori." New Zealand Institute, Transactions 7:3-53, p. 32.

This article incorporates text from Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary (1891) by Edward Tregear, which is in the public domain.