Maori mythology tells about ancestors Ranginui and Papatuanuku, or in short Rangi and Papa, concluded in a close embrace. When their children were born, the parents kept them between themselves, letting only rays of light to reach their children.
Myth tells how the sons tried to break free. After a few unsuccessful attempts, one of the sons named Tane put his feed on Rangi and his stretched arms on Papa. Pushing with all his power, being upside down, and with help of his brothers he succeeded to separate their parents. Rangi became the sky and Papa became the earth: Mother Earth and Father Sky. The grief of the separated parents is reflected in the falling rain and mist rising from the earth.
Finding themselves in a world of light (Te Aomarama), the brothers started to fight for power. Tane became god of the forests, Tangaroa became god of the seas, Rongo – god of the agriculture, and Whiro, the evil brother, became lord of the dark side. Tawhirimatea remained with his father Rangi and became god of winds and storms.
The brothers were immortal. Papa showed Tane how to make female form from red earth, then Tane breathed life into this earth-formed-maid, and mated with her. Their child was Hine-ata-uira, maid-of-the-flashing-dawn (alias Hine-tītama), and Tāne took her to wife.

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1. King of New Zealand’s Mythology
2. Attempt at Immortality
3. Hongi In New Zealand’s Traditions.