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Maori Religion and Mythology Part 2

Compass Points

Compass Points

Hurunuku-atea N
Parawera-nui S
Tahu-mawake-nui E
Tahu-makaka-nui W

Here we have the four proper names pertaining to the four cardinal points as indicated. The ordinary terms for north, south, east and west are raki (sometimes marangai or muri), tonga, rawhiti, and uru, mauru, or hauauru. The four names above are occasionally employed as personification terms, and also they are used to denote the four winds. Variant forms of the term for north are Hurunuku, Toko-hurunuku, Huruatea and Toko-huruatea. The prefixed toko is a word employed to denote the winds, but apparently only the four winds from the cardinal points, for these are the four toko (poles, props) employed by Tane wherewith to support the body of Rangi the Sky Parent. Variant forms of the term for east are Huru-mawake and Toko-huru-mawake. The west is occasionally termed simply Tahu-makaha. The "parent" of these four toko (winds) was Huru-te-arangi, whose spouse was Tonganui-kaea. Parawera-nui is often used (or was in former times) to indicate the south wind, often in page 316an indirect manner, as "he tonga parawera nui." The other three seem to have been used more as indicating the cardinal points, the south was often alluded to as "te pu o te tonga."