Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 22, 2026

Makeatutara

In Māori mythology, Makeatutara is the father of Māui. His wife is Taranga. He is a deity and guardian of the underworld. Makeatutara made mistakes as he recited the dedicatory incantations over Māui, which made it inevitable that Māui would die. As a result, humankind is mortal.

Last revised
Jul 22, 2026
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In Māori mythology, Makeatutara is the father of Māui. His wife is Taranga. He is a deity and guardian of the underworld. Makeatutara made mistakes as he recited the dedicatory (or baptismal) incantations over Māui, which made it inevitable that Māui would die. As a result, humankind is mortal.1

References

References

  1. E.R. Tregear, Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary (Lyon and Blair: Lambton Quay, 1891), 233–234.