Hina-uri

Also known as: Hina-te-ngaru-moana · Family: the New Zealand legends · Role: Maui's sister · First appears: Chapter VIII · Maui and His Brother-in-Law · Part 1

In the New Zealand legend, Hina-uri married Ira-waru. When Maui transformed Ira-waru into a dog, Maui taught Hina-uri a chant that revealed what had happened. In the Tahu and Hau tribes’ New Zealand story, she recognized her husband as the dog, reproached Maui, and wandered away.

Later, Hina-uri threw herself into the sea, intending to drown. Two fishermen found her, warmed her back to life, and she awoke. Tini-rau took her to be one of his wives, but his other wives drove her away from the chief’s houses. Hina and Tini-rau lived apart from the village until their little boy was born; her chants provided food and, later, clothing. For a time they lived happily together, until Tini-rau began neglecting and abusing her, and Hina cried aloud for her brother.

In the New Zealand legend, Hina killed the two wives who attacked her with an obsidian knife. In another version, she killed two women who came to kill her after hearing of her son’s birth. Rupe, her brother and Maui’s brother, then carried her away beneath his wings.