Moko-huruhuru

A personified form of the glow worm. The hero Māui once set out to overcome the goddess Hine-nui-te-pō, so that men die as does the moon, that is, for a brief period only, and then returned to life. He turned himself into a moko-huruhuru and entered the body of Hine, but she was startled and awoke; she felt Moko-huruhuru and slew him. Thus died Māui the hero, and so near was man to grasping immortality here on earth. See also Hine-huruhuru.

References

Source

  • Best, Elsdon. (1924). The Maori. Wellington: Harry H. Tombs, pp. 95, 148-149.