Ao (Māori mythology)
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use New Zealand English Template:About Ao (daylight) is one of the primal deities who are the unborn forces of nature in Māori mythology. Ao is the personification of light, clouds, and the ordinary world, as opposed to darkness (Template:Lang) and the underworld.<ref name="Tregear">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp
He is spoken of under many forms or manifestations, including Aotūroa (enduring day, this world)<ref name=AorakiDOC>Template:Cite web</ref> and Aotahi (bright day, world of light and life).<ref name="Tregear"/>Template:Rp With his companions Ata (morning) and Whaitua (space) Ao resists the forces of darkness.<ref name="Tregear"/>Template:Rp
The term Te Ao Māori, loosely translated as "The Māori world", is used to refer to Māori tradition and culture.
Genealogy
[edit]Ao appears evolving through the forms Aonui, Aoroa, Aowheneke, Ao-whetara out of the darkness as part of the great cosmological genealogies in Te Arawa's traditions, as part of the creation of the universe.<ref name="Tregear"/>Template:Rp
Aonui, Aoroa, Aopouri, Aopotango, Aowhetuma, Aowhekere, Aokahiwahiwa, Aokanapanapa, Aopakakina, Aopakarea, and Aotakawe were also the names of the Template:Lang who were the storm clouds, the children, of Tāwhirimātea, which were sent to punish his brothers after the separation of his parents, Rangi and Papa.<ref name="Tregear"/>Template:Rp
In a version recorded from Hūkiki Te Ahukaramū, a Ngāti Raukawa chief, Te Ao was born out of Te Ata, which itself came from the darkness.<ref name=Creation/> Ao's last form in Hūkiki's version is Te Ao Mārama.<ref name=Creation>Template:Cite web</ref> A version given by the Kāi Tahu of Moeraki is similar.<ref name="Shortland">Template:Cite book</ref>
Pan-Polynesian
[edit]In Tahiti, Aonui was Tāne's residence in the sky, and Aoaomaraia was the discoverer of fire; a similar role is taken on by Māui in other parts of Polynesia.<ref name="Tregear"/>Template:RpTemplate:Efn