| Uenuku | |
|---|---|
God of rainbows | |
| Gender | Male |
| Region | New Zealand |
| Ethnic group | Māori |
| Consort | Hine-pūkohu-rangi, Tairi-a-kohu |
| Offspring | Taiē, Ina, Ruatapu, Paikea, Ira[1] |
Uenuku is a god of rainbows and important ancestor in Māori oral histories. Uenuku simply means 'rainbow'.[2]
Uenuku is special to the Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu, and Ngāi Tūhoe Māori tribes. He is also known to two groups of tribes called Kurahaupō and Tainui. The Te Arawa group of tribes also know of him. Some of these tribes may also say he is a god of war.[3]
Geoff Murphy made his first movie in 1974, which was based on Uenuku's story. It was the first TV drama to be entirely spoken in the Māori language.[4]
- ↑ "The Journal of the Polynesian Society, Vol. XV, 1906". The Journal of the Polynesian Society Containing the Transactions and Proceedings of the Society. 15: 75–76. 1906. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- ↑ "Uenuku – Māori Dictionary". John C Moorfield. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ↑ "Ngā atua – the gods". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ↑ "Uenuku - Television". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 21 September 2013.