Mighty Maui Trivia Quiz

Answer: Maui's fish

When Maui and his brothers went out fishing, Maui caught a giant fish. He pulled and pulled his line until the huge fish surfaced. According to legend, this fish became the North Island. The rivers and mountains are said to be the cuts made in the fish's flesh whilst his brothers tried to kill the fish, even after Maui told them not to.

The Maori name for the North Island is Te Ika-a-Maui (The Fish of Maui.) As a punishment for cutting up the fish, the cuts remained forever, leaving mountains, plains and rivers in the land fish. If it were not for the brothers, legend has it the land would be smooth and flat.

Answer: Maui's waka

The South Island is said to have been the waka of Maui. A waka is a traditional Maori vessel, like a huge kayak, or canoe. Wakas are traditionally carved out of hollowed trees, and are often carved with tribal designs. Stewart Island at the bottom of the South Island is said to be the anchor of the waka, Wellington is the head of the fish, the North Auckland Peninsula is its tail, and the Mahia Peninsula is Maui's hook.

Answer: Blood from his nose

Maui is said to have used blood from his nose as bait to attract his giant fish. His brothers refused to give him any bait, so he punched himself in the nose and smeared the blood on the hook. The hook he used was made of the jawbone of his grandfather, Rangawhenua.

Answer: Ra

In early times Ra (the sun) used to rush across the sky, moving faster and faster each day, making the days shorter and the nights longer. Eventually there was no time in the day to do the chores that needed doing. Maui and all the other men wove flax ropes.

When Ra rose in the morning Maui and the men were waiting at his pit for him. They caught him with the ropes and held him in the sky. From then on days have been longer and Ra cannot move as fast as he used to. According to the story, some days, when you can make out the rays of Ra (the sun) you are actually seeing the flax ropes made by Maui.

Answer: His mother thought he was dead

Maui was the youngest of his siblings, and when he was born, his mother thought he was dead. She wrapped him up and threw him into the sea. Rangi, the sky-father found him wrapped in seaweed, washed up on the beach. Rangi was Maui's ancestor and raised him in the sky.

Answer: Taranga

The youngest son of Taranga, Maui returned from the sky and lived with his parents and brothers. His brothers joined him on all his adventures.

Answer: Turned him into a dog

Hine-ura was Maui's sister. As a punishment he turned her husband into a dog!

Answer: Stealing fire from Mahuika

Mahuika was the guardian of fire. Her fingernails were said to be the source of fire. Maui stole fire from Mahuika and hid it in the trees. This is given as the reason why when two sticks of wood are rubbed together fire is produced, because that wood holds the fire hidden by Maui!

Answer: Maleness and the forest

Tane rules men and fertility, and also the forest. Rangi is the god of the sky and Mahuika is the guardian of fire.

Answer: Hine

Maui believed that if he entered the womb of Hine, the goddess of death, he would be reborn immortal. He took the smallest birds from the forest with him to find Hine. The old woman was asleep and Maui went to creep between her legs. He made the birds promise not to laugh. The birds could not suppress their laughter and Hine woke up and clamped her legs together, cutting Maui right in half. Maui was the first being to die and because he failed his mission, from then on all men became mortal.

SAYING THE NAMES:
Maui (said 'M-ow-ee')
Hina-uri (said 'Hee-na-ew-ree')
Rangi (said 'Rung-ee')
Tane (said 'Tarn-ay')
Ra (said 'Rah')
Taranga (said 'Ta-rung-ah')
Mahuika (said 'Ma-hoo-ee-kah')
Rangawhenua (said 'Rung-ah-fen-oo-ah')