Pare-kōri-tawa

A daughter of Hine-nui-te-pō, born after that goddess had fled to the underworld (). Pare married Tāwhaki and went to heaven with him. When the sky is covered with small clouds, it is said as a proverb, "Pare-kōri-tawa is tilling her garden." By Tāwhaki, Pare had two children, Ue-nuku (Rainbow), and Whatitiri (Thunder).

Tāwhaki and Pare on going to heaven left a black moth behind them, as a token of the mortal body relinquished. During their climb, Tāwhaki repeated this karakia:

"Ascend, O Tāwhaki, by the narrow path,
By which the path of Rangi was followed;
The path of Tū-kai-te-uru.
The narrow path is climbed,
The broad path is climbed,
The path by which was followed
Your ancestors, Te Ao-nui
Te Ao-roa,
Te Ao-whititera.
Now you mount up
To your Ihi,
To your Mana,
To the Thousands above,
To your Ariki,
To your Tapairu,
To your Pukenga,
To your Whananga,
To your Tauira."

As the sister of Pare was called Pō-tangotango, there may be confusion in names here, as Tāwhaki's wife, the "Heavenly Maid," was Tangotango.

References

Sources

  • Shortland, Edward. (1882). Maori Religion and Mythology. London: Longmans Green, pp. 23-24.
  • Tregear, Edward. (1891). Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary. Wellington: Government Printer, p. 322.

This article incorporates text from Maori Religion and Mythology (1882) by Edward Shortland, which is in the public domain.