ORIGIN: Polynesian
TYPE: God of winds and weather
INFORMATION: He is the son of the sky god Ranginui, who fathered him on one of his early consorts. Pokoharua, the sister of Tangaroa, the sea god. All the subsequent descendants of Hanui-o-Rangi are believed to rule over the various aspects of the weather. Hanui thus fathered Tawhiri, the god of the northwest wind, whose son was Tiu. The control the fierce storms from the east. The children of Tiu include Hine-I-Tapapauta and Hine-Tu-Whenua, the deities overseeing the more gentle westerly winds. Hine-Tu-Whenua is the mother of Hakona-Tipu and Pua-I-Taha, controlling the southern and southwesterly gales.