Story: Hawaiki

Māui

Māui

Māui was one of the great characters of Hawaiki, renowned for his daring. This story, taken from Sir George Grey’s collection of Māori traditions, Polynesian mythology and ancient traditional history of the New Zealander race, tells how he obtained fire by tricking his grandmother, Mahuika. The carving of Māui capturing the sun is from Te Hono ki Hawaiki at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

Download the document to read the story.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference: B.042451

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, 'Hawaiki - Home of the gods', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/document/3802/maui (accessed 24 April 2024)

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 1 Apr 2015