Māori creation mythology

In the very early beginnings of creation, there was Io Matua Kore, the parentless one, the supreme and divine being, who possessed all potentialities, whose essence fertilised the other worlds, namely Te Kore, and Te Pō (Hawaiki).

Having created the night(s)(Te Pō) Io brought into existence the first gods, Rangi Awatea and Papatūānuku. The male and female principles out of which all things derived. Rangiawatea was the god of ‘space and light’ (wātea and awatea) and the first heaven was created by him on the foundations established by Io. 

Having completed the heavens, Rangiawatea saw the spirit of Papatūānuku and descended to cohabit with her. Out of this union arrived Tāne and the other gods, Tangaroa, Rongomatane, Tūmatauenga, Haumia-tiketike, Ruaumoko and Tāwhirimātea. Ranginui omitted to complete his work in the heavens and decide to cling to Papatūānuku. Here the gods resided, still in Te Pō and perpetual darkness.

Incensed by this perpetual darkness, Tāne (whose spirit was stirred by Io Matua Kore and who was the strongest of the bunch) roused his siblings to rebel and separate their parents. All agreed, with the exception of Tāwhirimātea.

Tāne planted his feet against Papa, and his shoulders against Rangi, pushed with all his might and drove Rangi up into the skies. Into this space flooded the light - Te Ao Marama! 

The children of Rangi and Papa commissioned the domains of the new world based on their inherent talent. Tangaroa was god of the sea, Rongo the god of peace, the garden and vegetation. Ruaumoko divided the lands asunder, Tāwhiri undertook the meteorological office. Tūmatauenga was the god of war and Tāne was given the realm of the forests and the birds.