Rangi

Also known as: Rangi-nui / the great Heaven · Role: the great Heaven · First appears: Chapter I · Tiki--The Ancestor of Mankind

In Chapter I · Tiki--The Ancestor of Mankind, Rangi-nui and Papa-tu-a-nuku were separated, and Hine-nui-te-po is named as Rangi’s parent. Rangi is also Tiki’s father: “Tiki, son of Heaven and Earth”. In Chapter II · The Creation of Hawaiki, Te Ao gives birth to Rangi-nui, the great Heaven. Rangi takes Hine-nui-te-po as his wife, and their son is Ha-nui-o-rangi; he also takes Te-ata-tuhi as his wife, and their daughter is Te-marama, the Moon. He takes Te wera-wera as his wife, and Te Ra, the Sun, is born.

Rangi makes Papa-tu-a-nuku his wife, and their first son is Rehua. He declares, “nevermore will I be parted from you”, but Tangaroa falls upon and terribly wounds him, and Rangi falls upon Papa-tu-a-nuku. Tane then lifts Rangi away from Papa-tu-a-nuku, separating Heaven and Earth and bringing Hawaiki into being. Chapter V · The Chant of Rangi-nui gives another account of his beginnings: Rangi is the son of Te-Po-nui, the Great Night.

In Chapter IV · The Creation of the Stars, Tane sets out to find adornments for Rangi, fastens sacred stars in his corners and arranges others in a southern cross. Tupu-renga-o-te-Po brings more stars, which Tane distributes over Rangi; when he has finished, Tane rejoices in his father’s beauty. Chapter VI · Tane--The Creation of Nature tells how Tane lifts Rangi high above the mountains and adorns him with stars. Rangi sends the rays of his Eye of Day down upon Papa-tu-a-nuku, creating flowers. In Chapter XII · Te Aroha o Hinemoa: The Love of Hinemoa, Papa-tu-a-nuku sends white cloud-messengers of her love up to Rangi.