Polynesian Mythology is one of the earliest printed collections of M?ori traditional mythology, and is considered by some scholars to be the most authoritative and representative. Originally compiled in M?ori as Ko ng? mahinga a ng? t?puna M?ori, "The Deeds of the Ancestors," it was translated by George Grey, the third governor of New Zealand, in 1855. Grey's primary source was Te R?ngikaheke of Ng?ti Rangiwewehi, who for several years lived with Grey for the purpose of teaching him the language and customs of the M?ori. Grey never acknowledged Te R?ngikaheke's contributions, and made a number of changes.
This collection of M?ori mythology covers the start of the universe through to the spread of M?ori tribes through New Zealand's North Island. These stories, as part of an oral tradition, varied regionally. This volume, compiled from a number of sources, is in some cases a patchwork, representing a consensus that is not a true representation of the traditions of any one specific region. Additional sources include Hohepa Paraone of Te Ngae, the people of Mokoia, Matene Te Whiwhi, Hori Patara of Ng?ti Toa, Piri Kawau of ?ti Awa, and several unknown contributors.
From cosmogonic myths of creation to the adventures of demigods and ancestral heroes, this collection preserves a vital piece of M?ori oral tradition in one of its earliest English translations.
Readers interested in world mythology, indigenous oral traditions, and the cultural history of Aotearoa New Zealand will find this an invaluable primary source.
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