Te Timatatanga

Flanked on either side by the power of the Wind, the god of the sun, Tama-nui-te-Ra, conjures a new world from the darkness.

Te Wheiao

Responding to the sun god's call, the children of the Earth Mother (Papatuanuku) and Sky Father (Ranginui) force their parents apart.

Te Ao Marama

The first dawn.

Taranga and the Baby Maui

Taranga plays with her fifth baby and youngest child, Maui Potiki.

Dance of the Ancestors

Ages pass and mere mortals journey in and out of the earthly realm, becoming the ancestors that will watch over Maui.

Goddess of Death

Hine-nui-te-Po, the goddess of darkness, rises into the night air.

Call to the Dead

Hine looms over the dead baby.

Under the Sea

The sons and daughters of the ocean god, Tangaroa, find the dead infant wrapped in the protective strands of his mother’s dark hair. At the sun god's command, they bring Maui back to life.

Maui

Grown to full strength under Ra's care.

In the Realm of the Sun-God

Ra schools Maui in the divine arts.

Maui's Brothers

Leaving Ra and the godly world, Maui encounters his brothers.

Reunion

Maui has an emotional reunion with his mother.

Around the Fire

Taranga tries to welcome Maui by including him in a song that celebrates the family’s sacred fire, but his brothers want nothing to do with him.

On a Mission

With their fire extinguished, the brothers eventually find enough courage to descend underground to beg flame from the goddess of fire.

Finger of Flame

Alone in the cavern of fire, Maui is entranced by a dancing flame.

Inferno

Maui captures the life of a flame with Ra’s sacred patu (a weapon), unleashing an inferno that threatens to engulf him.

Snow Storm

Sensing his son’s peril, Ra saves Maui by calling down snow to quell the firestorm.

Gone Fishing

Using the ancient prayer that Ra taught him, Maui conjures the spirits and, with his brothers, fishes a great land from the sea.

Dividing the Spoils

Maui is unable to prevent his envious brothers from carving up the new land.

Battle

Tempers erupt over possession of the new land.

Challenging Death

Drawn to the combat, Hine is openly challenged by Maui.

Punished

Intervening, the god of the sun punishes Maui for daring to challenge the goddess of death.

Destiny

Bruised by Ra’s punishment, Maui contemplates his destiny.

Renewed Purpose

Refusing to be cowed by the gods, the mighty warrior commits himself to humbling Ra.

One Man Against the Gods

The determined warrior with his weapon (the taiaha).

Weaving a Trap

In fear and admiration, Maui's brothers join him in weaving a trap for the sun-god.

Bait

Ready to spring the trap, Maui lures his father to defeat.

Trapping Ra

With his ancestors behind him, Maui humbles the god of the sun.

Airborne

Seizing Ra's golden crown, Maui uses it to take to the skies.

A Fateful Decision

As only Hine stands between Maui and immortality, he resolves to defeat the goddess of death.

Farewell

Sensing she will lose her son again, Taranga mourns for Maui a second time.

Mortality

Maui succombs to the inevitability of death.

Legend

Maui rises to join his ancestors, as his brothers honour his memory.