ORIGIN: Polynesian
TYPE: Fish God
INFORMATION: The son of Punga and grandson of Tangaroa, the sea the creator god, he is revered in various regions of Polynesia as the progenitor of all life in the sea, especially fish. His brother is Tu-Te-Wanawana, the deity responsible for the well-being of lizards, snakes and other reptiles. When fierce storms arose at the time of creation under the control of Tawhirimatea, the god of winds, mythology records that Tu-Te-Wanawana went inland to escape the devestation while Ikatere took to the safety of the sea. The incident became known as the schism of Tawhirimatea and has resulted in an eternal conflict between Tane(Mahuta) the forest god and Tangaroa the sea god.