Te Ra

Also known as: Tama-nui-ki-te Ra / Tama-nui-ki-te-Ra / Tama-nui-ki-te-ra / Te-Ra / the Sun · Role: the Sun, son of Rangi · First appears: Chapter II · The Creation of Hawaiki

In Chapter II, Rangi took Te wera-wera as his wife, and Te Ra, the Sun, was born. In Chapter X, Maui and his brothers caught Te Ra in ropes at the cliffs of the caves. Maui beat and wounded him, broke his wing, and Te Ra tore himself free. At Hawaiki, Te Ra revealed his great name, Tama-nui-ki-te-Ra, to Maui.

From that time, Te Ra traveled more slowly, making the days long again. Chapter XI says that Maui’s great deed had compelled Tama-nui-ki-te-ra to prolong the days.

Relationship record

Life events

• Rangi took Te wera-wera as his wife, and Te-Ra was born.(Chapter II · The Creation of Hawaiki)
  • With: Rangi Te wera-wera
  • “He found the woman Te wera-wera, the heat, and his heart went out to her, so that he took her to wife, and Te-Ra was born, Te-Ra, the Sun!”
• Maui and his brothers caught Te Ra in their ropes.(Chapter X · Maui and Mahuika · 📍 the cliffs of the caves)
  • With: Maui
  • “see, oh see, how he entangles himself in the strong ropes--how the brothers throw the nooses--Look, ah, the Sun is caught!”
• Maui beat Te Ra, wounded him, and broke his wing, but Te Ra tore himself free.(Chapter X · Maui and Mahuika)
  • With: Maui
  • “Maui beats him; look, he bleeds!--ha, again he beats the Sun; again--again--Te Ra cries wildly!--ah, ah--Maui has broken his wing”
• Te Ra revealed his great name, Tama-nui-ki-te-Ra, to Maui.(Chapter X · Maui and Mahuika · 📍 Hawaiki)
  • With: Maui
  • “Ah, why has man wounded me so terribly?--ah man, do you know that you have wounded Tama-nui-ki-te-Ra? Why would you kill Tama-nui-ki-te-Ra?”
• Te Ra traveled more slowly, making the days long again.(Chapter X · Maui and Mahuika · 📍 Hawaiki)
  • With: Maui
  • “From that time the Sun went slowly over the heavens, so that the days became long again and full of happiness for the people at Hawaiki.”
• Maui compelled Tama-nui-ki-te-ra to prolong the days.(Chapter XI · The Death of Maui)
  • With: Maui
  • “through his great deed he had compelled Tama-nui-ki-te-ra to prolong the days”

Chapter II · The Creation of Hawaiki

• parent: Rangi “look upon the beauty of Rangi’s son”
• parent: Te wera-wera “He found the woman Te wera-wera, the heat, and his heart went out to her, so that he took her to wife, and Te-Ra was born, Te-Ra, the Sun!”

Chapter III · The Poi-dance

• parent: Rangi “Te Ra, the Sun, is the son of Rangi, but Maui is the Sun-god of human creation; he is the binding link; through him alone is it possible for man to understand the wonder of the golden Sun.”

Chapter X · Maui and Mahuika

• enemies with Maui “Maui springs forward with his sacred weapon--Te Ra cries!--Ah, Maui beats him; look, he bleeds!--ha, again he beats the Sun; again--again--Te Ra cries wildly!--ah, ah--Maui has broken his wing--O Maui, the hero!--Ha, that is a terrible battle!”

Chapter XI · The Death of Maui

• enemies with Maui (Maui boasts of capturing Tama-nui-ki-te-ra.) “Who captured Tama-nui-ki-te-Ra? Who?--Maui!”

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Extracted from the original text of Te Tohunga. Made with Rho MD.