Tama-nui-te-rā

Say it: TAH-mah-noo-ee-teh-RAH · Tama = son/child, nui = great, te rā = the sun. 'The great son, the sun.'

Tama-nui-te-rā sets the pace. Snared by Māui, he was made to travel slowly so people would have time enough to live well.

Te Kāwai (Line of descent)

Te Kore → Te Pō → Papatūānuku → Tama-nui-te-rā

Te Kōrero (the story)

The sun. Māui and his brothers snared him and beat him slow so that the day would be long enough for people to work, eat and live well.

Māui and his brothers plaited ropes of harakeke and waited at the pit where the sun rises. They snared him and struck him until he agreed to move slowly across the sky — the reason a day is long enough for work, kai and kōrero.

Te Whakapapa (the genealogy)

Travels the body of Ranginui each day.

Snared by Māui and his brothers with ropes of harakeke and beaten until he agreed to go slowly.

His pace sets the working hours; the maramataka sets the nights.

Hine-nui-te-pō receives what he leaves at the end of the day.

Ngā Mana (domains and influence)

The sun and daylightThe length and shape of the working dayWarmth, growth and drying

Kei Kōnei Rātou (they are present here)

The first line of light on a wall in the morning.
Warmth on your back when you didn't know you were cold.
The particular gold of the last hour before sunset.
Getting more done in an unhurried hour than a rushed three.
First light on a wall, and the last warmth of the afternoon.
Any day you plan around daylight rather than a clock.
Warmth on skin after cold.

Ngā Huarahi Hono (ways to connect)

First light

Greet him before you touch your phone. Face the light, say 'tēnā koe, e Tama', and take one breath.

Midday

Step into the sun for two minutes. He was slowed so you'd have time — use some of it.

Sunset

Stop working if you can. Watch the last of it and let the day be finished.

If you are new to this

Meet the sun once today — at rising or setting — with your phone in your pocket.

A Common Misunderstanding

The Māui story is not 'humans defeating a god'. It is about negotiating a workable relationship with a relative whose pace did not suit us.

Ngā Taha o te Ora (aspects of life)

Hinengaro (Mind)Tinana (Body)Mahi (Work)

Ngā Uara (values)

Wā · Time

Time is something you can shape.

Whakapau kaha · Make an effort

Give the day your effort.

Ngā Pūrākau (the traditional stories)

Told in full, the way they would be shared out loud. Versions differ between iwi (tribe), hapū (sub-tribe) and whānau (family).

Te whakawhenumitanga — the snaring of the sun

Why the days are long enough to work in, and what it cost to slow him down.

About 4 min read

Ngā wāhine tokorua — Hine-raumati and Hine-takurua

How the sun keeps two wives, and why that makes the seasons.

About 4 min read