Tangaroa Creation Myth (Cook Islands)
In the Cook Islands version of creation, Vari-ma-te-takere (the primordial mother) lived confined in a narrow space within Avaiki. She plucked pieces from her right side and left side to create six children. The first was Avatea (Vatea), a moon god with the right half of a man and left half of a fish. Avatea married Papa, and they bore twin sons: Tangaroa, god of the sea, and Rongo, god of agriculture. Tangaroa and Rongo shared dominion over all things—with Tangaroa taking everything red. Rangi, grandson of Rongo, later pulled Mangaia island up from Avaiki and became its first king, establishi