Flames of Earth and Sky.

A note from Hare Hongi explaining the scientific truth underlying the popular myths concerning thunder and lightning and volcanic phenomena:

“The demi-god Awanui-a-Rangi espoused Whaitiri (Thunder). The younger twin-sisters of Whaitiri were Niniwa-i-te-Rangi (Lightning) and Pere (the goddess of the active volcano). The myth runs that Whaitiri became aware that her sister, Pere, was very desirable, and that Awanui (her husband) was enamoured of her. Whaitiri promptly administered a thrashing to her sister Pere, who fled to the earth (since always seen in the flames of an active volcano). Niniwa remained aloft with Whaitiri. And now, when a volcano becomes excessively active, and its flames dart into space, the elders say: ‘Ko Pere tena; e mea ana kia hoki ake ki toona kainga, ki te rangi.’ But then Whaitiri thunders her wrath, and Niniwa rushes down to the assistance of her sister, Pere.

“When a volcano violently erupts, a thunder-cloud is quickly formed above it, and lightning leaps down to meet the volcanic flames. They are not three sisters, but three manifestations of one and the same thing, electricity.

“That is how the Maori taught that. He gave the phenomena a human interest.”

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