They contain Māori beliefs about the creation of the universe and the origins of gods and of men.
Natural events, the weather, the stars and the moon, the fish, and the birds are all found in traditional Māori stories.
Some of the Māori atua (gods) include:
Tāne Mahuta, god of the forest; Tūmatauenga, god of war and people;
Tangaroa, god of the sea;
Haumia-tiketike, god of uncultivated foods;
Rūaumoko, god of earthquakes;
Rongomātāne, god of cultivated foods;
Tāwhirimātea, god of weather.
