Kiwa is one of several male divine guardians of the ocean in the traditions of some Maori tribes on the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand. A poetic name for the Pacific Ocean is Te Moana Nui A Kiwa (the great ocean of kiwa). Kiwa's First wife Parawhenuamea: Ancestor of the streams that flow from the land to the sea and of fresh water generally. Kiwa's Second wife Hinemoana (ocean woman) a personification of the sea. Kiwa and HInemoana had a number of children.
The names numbers of their children vary in different accounts. One version names ten children and for most of these gives details about the creatures they gave rise to. Pipihura ancestor of the cockle, Te Uru-Kahikahika source of eels lampreys and frostfish, Wharerimu ancestor of seaweed. Hine-Tapiritia ancestor of certain molluscs and oysters, Te Raengawha origin of sea urchins as well as various fishes and other children. others say that Kiwa is the Brother of Hinemoana or her guardian. Some Maori tribes have stories in which Hinemoana is Married to Rangi the god of the sky. This causes jealously on the part of Papa the earth Mother another of Rangi's wifes. the enmity between Hinemoana and Papa is shown in the way the sea is constantly attacking and eroding the land.
Kia ora Jerome,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing about Kiwa. I learnt something about Kiwa from your retelling of this account. Where did you get your information from? Could you create a picture to go with this account?
Kōkā Maria