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The Guardian of the Lunar Cycle and Female Rhythm 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Celestial TravelerHina is the personification of the moon (Māhina). She is often associated with the demigod Māui—sometimes as his mother, sometimes as his sister. She controls the phases of the moon and watches ove...

The Mother of Humanity and the Breath of Life 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: Created from ClayHine-ahu-one was the very first woman. She was not born; she was fashioned by Tāne Mahuta from the sacred red clay at Kurawaka (the "pubic area" of the Earth Mother). Tāne breathed life into her nostrils, and...

The Lady of Geothermal Heat and Volcanic Power 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Hidden FireHine-i-tapeka is the sister of Mahuika (the fire goddess). While Mahuika’s fire is on the surface (in wood), Hine-i-tapeka’s fire is hidden deep underground. She is the source of the heat that makes geysers...

The Cleanser of the Atmosphere and the Soft Mist 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Sky’s TearsHine-ihorangi is the Atua of the rain and the moisture in the air. She works between Ranginui (Sky) and Papatūānuku (Earth) to ensure the land never goes thirsty. She is the one who washes the dust from th...

The Guardian of Spirits and the Protector in Death 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: From Light to NightAfter discovering a difficult truth about her family, Hine-tītama fled to the underworld (Rarohenga). She changed her name to Hine-nui-te-pō and declared that she would wait there to catch the spirits...

The Guardian of Forest Greenery and Seasonal Change 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Nurtured ChildHine-rau-wharangi is the daughter of Tāne and Hine-tītama. She represents the expansion and growth of the vegetable world. When she was born, she was celebrated with a special ceremony to ensure she wo...

The Atua of Childbirth, Weaving, and Female Knowledge 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Master WeaverHine-te-iwaiwa is the most important Atua for women’s traditional arts. She is the guardian of the Whare Pora (the house of weaving). Legend says she was the first to weave a korowai (cloak) and the f...

The Flash of Inspiration and the Power of the Storm 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Sky’s SparkHine-te-uira is the personification of lightning. She is a daughter of Tāne and Hine-ahu-one. She is fast, bright, and powerful. In legends, her "supernatural fire" flashes across the sky to announce the...

The Origin of Light in the Night Sky 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Star MakerHine-Turama is the Atua associated with the stars and celestial light. She is often said to be the daughter of Tāne. Her name Turama means "to give light" or "to illuminate." She is the one who helps guide us through the...

The Bringer of the New Day and the First Light 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The First-Born DaughterHine-tītama was the daughter of Tāne and Hine-ahu-one. She is the personification of the dawn—that magical moment when the light of the morning begins to chase away the darkness of the night. She rep...

The Nurturer of the Ocean and the Shore 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Ocean's EmbraceWhile Tangaroa is the "Master" of the fish, Hinemoana is the ocean itself. She is the wife of Kiwa (a guardian of the sea), and together they produced the seaweed, shellfish, and the sands of the beach. She is the...

The Fierce Protector of the Eternal Flame 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Fingertips of FireMahuika is the goddess who kept fire in her fingernails and toenails. When the trickster Māui came to her to ask for fire, she gave him one of her nails. Māui kept extinguishing them until she realized he wa...

The Star of Reflection, Health, and Connection"Matariki whetū heri kai." (Matariki, the star that brings food.) 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Guiding MotherMatariki is the central star of the cluster, often referred to as the mother of the other eight stars. In Māori tradition, she is the conduct...

The Star of Those Who Have Passed"Kua whetūrangitia koe." (You have now become a star.) 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Bridge to the HeavensPōhutukawa holds a very sacred place in the cluster. She is the star that connects us to our ancestors (tūpuna) and those we have lost since the last Matarik...

The Star of the Forests and Flight"Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro, nōnā te ngahere." (The bird that partakes of the miro berry, theirs is the forest.) 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Bounty AboveTupu-ā-rangi is the star connected to everything that grows above the ground—high in the canopy of ou...

The Star of Food from the Earth 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Gift of PapatūānukuTupu-ā-nuku is the star associated with everything that grows within the soil. Her name comes from "Tupu" (to grow) and "Nuku" (short for Papatūānuku, the Earth Mother). She reminds us that the Earth is a giant pa...

The Star of Dreams, Goals, and the Future"E hiwa, e hiwa! Hiwa-i-te-rangi!" (Shine, shine! Star of the heavens!) 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Promise of TomorrowHiwa-i-te-rangi is the youngest star in the cluster and perhaps the most exciting for children. She is the "Wishing Star." Unlike the oth...

The Star of Streams, Rivers, and Lakes"Ka ora te wai, ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tangata." (If the water is healthy, the land is healthy, the people are healthy.) 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Sweet WatersWaitī is the star that watches over our "sweet" waters—the fresh water that flows from the...

The Star of the Great Salt Sea 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Guardian of the TidesWaitā is the star that governs the Moana (the ocean). While his sister Waitī looks after the small streams, Waitā looks after the vast, deep blue. He is the protector of all sea life, from the smallest pipi in the...

The Star of the Air and the Breath of Life"Hau i te rangi, hau i te whenua." (The wind in the sky, the wind on the earth.) 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Messenger of the SkyUrurangi is the star connected to the winds—the Hau. He determines the nature of the winds for the year ahead. Will they be...

The Star of the Sky-Springs and the Water Cycle"He hōnore, he korōria ki te Atua, he maungārongo ki te whenua." (Honour and glory to the Creator, peace upon the land.) 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Celestial SpringWaipunarangi’s name translates to "the spring in the sky." In Māori tradition...

The Herald of the New Year and the Star of Preparation"Puanga kai rau." (Puanga of the abundant food.) 🌿 The Pillar of Legend: The Zenith StarWhile Matariki is a cluster of many stars, Puanga (known as Rigel in the constellation of Orion) is a single, incredibly bright blue-white supergiant. Beca...

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