The Māori Gods, Book Four – Tāne and the Baskets of Knowledge (English version)

The Māori Gods, Book Four – Tāne and the Baskets of Knowledge

Tāne me ngā Kete o Te Wānanga tells the story of Tāne and his journey to Tikitiki-o-Rangi to fetch the Three Baskets of Knowledge and the Two Sacred Stones, Rehutai and Hukatai.

Io, the Supreme Being summonses his two heavenly guardians Rehua and Ruatau to The Uppermost Heaven. He sends them down to Earth to find which of Ranginui and Papatūānuku’s sons could ascend to Te Toi-o-ngā Rangi and fetch the treasured baskets and stones. Having quizzed Tūmatauenga, Tūmatakāka, Whiro-te-Tipua and others Rehua and Ruatau assign the mission to the youngest of the siblings, Tāne. He is anointed and subjected to preparatory rituals required for the journey.

Continuing envy and a desire to beat Tāne to Tikitiki-o-Rangi drives Whiro-te-Tipua to race well ahead of his younger brother. Even though his suggestion to journey by way of The Edge of the Heavens was rejected, he takes that route anyway. Twice, Whiro tries to thwart Tāne’s ascent by attacking him with Te Tini-a-Poto, his militia of birds and insects.

Needless to say that, with the help of Tāwhirimātea and Para-Wera-Nui, Tāne prevailed over Whiro-te-Tipua and mankind emerged into this World of Enlightenment and Understanding.

Series Summary

Whether we believe in the existence of a higher being or creator or not, most of us are curious to know what underpins the cultural differences amongst us.

This is a series of graphic novellas designed to re-tell the traditional stories of New Zealand’s Māori people in an innovative and contemporary format.

We’ve created these at a time when the Māori culture and language are receiving a lot of attention in the public and private sectors of business and education. Our aim is to give people, meaningful insights into what underpins Māori values and principles.

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