Te Kakano have made a lovely mural for their classroom

In the beginning, there was only darkness. Ranginui, the Sky Father, and Papatūānuku, the Earth Mother, lay tightly together in a loving embrace. Between them, their many children lived, pressed in the darkness, longing for space and light.

The children grew restless. Tāne-mahuta, the god of the forests, spoke of separating their parents so that they could live in the world of light. Some agreed, others opposed it, but eventually Tāne stood between them, feet on his mother and shoulders against his father, and pushed with all his strength.

With a great effort, he pushed Ranginui up into the sky and pressed Papatūānuku down to the earth. Light flooded in for the first time, and the world as we know it began.

Ranginui still weeps for his beloved Papatūānuku, and his tears fall as rain. Papatūānuku, in turn, sends her mists up to the sky. Even though they are apart, their love remains forever.