In Polynesian mythology, Maui is a clever and talented human-half-god, who is believed to have lured the North Island out of Aotearoa, New Zealand.
After his miraculous birth and educated into adulthood, Maui won the hearts of his two supernatural parents, taught various skills useful to humans, trapping the sun, and tame the fire. However, one of his most famous acts is fishing the North Island.
Fishing island
Out of spite, the four Maui brothers conspired to leave him alone while they were fishing. Maui, eavesdropping on their plans, secretly makes a hook from the miraculous jaw bones of the ancestors. Then, one night, he crept into his siblings' canoe and hid under the board.
After his brothers sailed away from the land and filled their canoes with fish, Maui appeared. He then pulled out his magic hook and tossed it to the side of the canoe while uttering a powerful spell.
The hook went down further and further into the ocean until Maui felt the hook was touching something. He pulled it slowly, and deep down, the hook was tightly tethered. It must be a giant fish! Together with his siblings, Maui drew the fish to the surface.
Maui had been warning his brothers to wait until he calmed Tangaroa, the sea god, before they cut the fish. But they are tired of waiting and start slashing some of the fish for themselves. This is what later became valleys, mountains, lakes, and rocky coastlines on the North Isla
