Baddies o Te Ao

FEATURE | TE AO MĀORI | PŪRĀKAU / MYTHOLOGY

Written by Elise Sadlier (she/her) | @elise_sadlier | Contributing Writer

From cosmogony and religion to mythology and legend, every culture echoes with stories that shape who we are. But what happens when you never see yourself in those stories?

I grew up religious — 7am Bible study religious. As a girl, I never saw myself in the stories. The women were always framed around men, moving through the pages like diligent cattle. And the few wāhine we can name? They carried the blame. Eve ate the fruit, Sarah laughed in Abraham’s face, Mary… well, enough said.

Not in Te Ao Māori though. Wāhine here are creators, destroyers, healers, storm-bringers — baddies in every sense. Say what you will about the “pagans,” but they always recognised the female essence of nature — the way plants spring from soil, the life-bearing powers of wāhine. In Te Ao Māori, women are the portals of life.

It was Peter Gossage’s books that introduced me to my favourite ātua wāhine, as I quietly thumbed through the glossy pages in the library.  Mahuika with her burning manicure, Taranga wrapping Maui’s in her tresses, and Pania with her purple lips and sea green hair. 

These wāhine embodied aspects of the natural world. They are forever part of the infinite push and pull, and frankly? They weren’t just baddies, they were the blueprint. 

Here are some of my favourites (and some my friends thought deserved the crown).

Hinenuitepō/Hinetītama

Obsidian teeth in her teke; Need I say more? 

Song: Deathbeds by Bring me the Horizon / Work Song by Hozier

Hinenuitepō is the ātua of death, and she gives off major emo vibes. Think liquid black eyeliner, a septum piercing, and a playlist titled “SADGIRL HOURS.” But, she wasn’t always that way. 

She began as Hinetitama, the dawn maiden - the first woman born, and the child of Tane Mahuta and Hineahuone. 

Tane, being deceitful and frankly, a major creep hid her parentage from her, and made her his wife. When she found out, she declared nah FUCK THAT  ( valid crash out) and gapped it to Rarohenga where she lives still, guiding the souls of the dead. 

Death remains the ultimate final boss: she will eventually claim everyone. Hinenuitepō even has Maui on her kill count. Maui heard that he could defeat death by entering via her coochie, but when a pīwakawaka awoke her she crushed him with the obsidian teeth in her teke, and the strongest thigh grip in the universe.

Mahuika 

Red flame. No acrylic, no gel. 

Songs: Sweat (A La La La La Long) by Inner Circle / Escapism by raye

Mahuika is fire embodied. She lives in the heart of a volcano at the end of the earth. I imagine she has a collection of vinyl records, and spends her days smoking and manicuring her nails. Mahuika, like any baddie, just wants to be left alone. But, when Maui came knocking (bloody mischief again, have some respect for your aunties) she gave him each of her fingernails of flame, which he placed in the trees to make fire. And he kept coming back, ten times, until she unleashed her fire on him. 

And did she obliterate him on the spot? No, she showed restraint. Mahuika is a patient ātua, but like most wāhine, push her too far and she will mess you up. 

Whaitiri 

Very Freaky Gal

Song: Looking for the hoes (Ain’t my fault) Sexxy red / TYRANT by Beyonce

Whaitiri is the deity of thunder and storms, with a skin like the wind and a heart as cold as snow. And, she’s somewhat unhinged. She’s definitely the type to slash your tires for looking at another girl; get into fights in the club, and if it all else fails - eat you. Yes, so what if she was a cannibal? A girl’s gotta eat. 

Whaitiri had her eye set on a tāne named Kaitangata. When she married him and found out that he was not in fact on that Armie Hammer freak shit she threw a huge fit and stormed back off to the sky. Sometimes, you just gotta be a little bit dramatic.

Hine Kōrako

Pro-Choice Queen / ANTI weaponized incompetence 

Song: People - Libianca

Hine Kōrako is a taniwha/mermaid/ marakihau/water spirit who lives in a studio apartment under Te Reinga Falls. A nature girly through and through she spends her days swimming and sunbathing by the falls. She’s the one who guided the Takitimu to our shores. 

Like many mythological baddies, Hine Kōrako was cursed, spiritually bound to her form. She met Tane-Kino, a human, and they fell in love. She eventually had a child, but due to her nature she made Tane-Kino promise her that she wanted nurse it, wash it, or care for it. So Tane-Kino was changing nappies and bottle-feeding (as he should) until he couldn’t take it anymore (typical) and Hine Kōrako fled back to her studio apartment in Te Reinga. 

Papatūānuku

It’s giving MOTHER

Song: Me & U - Tems / Doja Cat - Woman

Papatuanuku was a very busy lady, but she always had time for her mans. The mother of the earth, she was wedded to Ranginui the sky father, and they were locked together in an eternal embrace. They went on to have SEVENTY CHILDREN who were trapped between their bodies in the darkness. No wonder our girl was tired. 

Tane Mahuta, the God of the trees eventually separated them. Not that Papa doesn’t have stuff to do, like oh I don’t know, give life to all things, but sis has been longing for her mans ever since. They still face time every night though. 

Hinekauorohia

Diamonds and Divine Feminine

Song: So Fresh, So Clean - Outkast

Peak spiritual baddie. She swears by her crystal collection, CBD oil, and mirimiri. She refuses to stray from the maramataka. Anti-capitalist but pro-drip, she’s got a weakness for the finer things. Her name literally means “to adorn,” so of course she would be the freelance yoga instructor, rongoā expert, and stylist everyone wants in their corner. The tohunga take her seriously — she’s on their speed dial.

And in pūrākau? She’s not just vibes. When Tāne Mahuta climbed to the heavens in search of the kete of knowledge, Hinekauorohia was the one who cleansed him with the divine waters, making sure he was ready to carry that wisdom back down. That’s her: always healing, always flash, always lifting others into their own mana.

Rohe (wife of Maui) 

Face-card that never declines 

Song: Hot Girl Summer - Megan Tha Stallion 

Rohe is an underrated baddie, with a face-card so lethal that her husband, Mauī tried to steal it. She was the sister of the sun, so you know her glow was next level. I like to think Rohe spent her days lounging by the pool, modelling, and rolling her eyes at Māui’s exploits. 

Rohe is most commonly associated with Moriori tradition; the indigenous people of Rēkohu (Chatham Islands). Legend has it that Mauī knew he was punching so he tried to steal her face. Rohe refused, so he killed her using black magic, introducing evil into the world. She returned in spirit just to kill him, and claimed her throne as ruler of the underworld.

Now she spins under the name DJ Eclipse at the Rarohenga Nightclub, serving looks and beats that remind everyone: even death itself is on her side. 

Acknowledgements: Suggestions from some other baddies of Te Ao Māori: Rihi Salter , Kristina Cavit, and Te-Amo Fox.