Hine-nui-te-po and Maui

Afterlife Myth

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About this myth

Hine-nui-te-po and Maui is a Afterlife myth originating from the Māori belief system. The main deity depicted in this myth is likely Hine-nui-te-pō.

In a nutshell

Myth summary

Māui, the first man and semidivine being, sought to enter Hine-nui-te-pō's vagina. He tried to do so while Hine-nui-te-pō was asleep by means of turning into a worm and entering her. Unfortunately, however, Hine-nui-te-pō woke up and crushed Māui. As a result, Māui was the first man to die and experience the afterlife.

Attested: Unknown
Created: Unknown
Myth type: Afterlife
Main deity: Hine-nui-te-pō
Belief system: Māori
Origin: Oceania › Australia and New Zealand › New Zealand

Belief system

Māori Religion

Polytheistic

Māori religion refers to the cultural beliefs and practices of the Māori people in New Zealand (Polynesia).

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Belief system

Hine-nui-te-pō

Main deity

Hine-nui-te-pō was a Māori deity associated with death and the night in some traditions.

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Main deity

More information

Background

The Hine-nui-te-pō and Māui afterlife myth comes from the Māori people of modern-day New Zealand. It details how Māui, the first man, tried to trick Hine-nui-te-pō while she was asleep by entering her through her vagina.

 

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Texts related to this myth

See full texts of this myth via related artifacts. Where available, a translation is included.

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How did we get this date?

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How did we get this date?

We're not quite sure about the creation date for this myth.

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Cite this page

MLA Modern Language Association (8th ed.)

OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Hine-nui-te-po and Maui." OMNIKA – World Mythology Index, OMNIKA Foundation, 08 May. 2019, omnika.org/stable/149. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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APA American Psychological Association (6th ed.)

OMNIKA (2019, May 08). Hine-nui-te-po and Maui. Retrieved from https://omnika.org/stable/149

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CMS Chicago Manual of Style (16th ed.)

OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Hine-nui-te-po and Maui." Las Vegas, NV: OMNIKA Foundation. Created May 08, 2019. Accessed May 21, 2026. https://omnika.org/stable/149.

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Bibliography

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Fast facts

Myth
Cherokee Belief system
Dayuni'si Main deity
Origin
location_city United States Northern America

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