Te Hinu-tohu

Te Hinu-tohu is spoken of by some as the sister of Tangaroa, and she was famous for her beauty and for her singing. The god Rū heard of the beauty of Te Hinu and ascended to the earth that he might look upon her. He assumed the form of an owl in order to make the ascent, and, approaching her house, heard her singing, which was like unto the rippling of waters. While the people of the house slept, he recited a charm to cause her to dream of him and desire him. She became his wife and together they descended to the underworld and took up their abode there. Their descendant is Niwa-reka.

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