Rarohenga

Rarohenga is the subterranean realm where spirits of the deceased dwell after death, according to Māori oral tradition. The underworld is ruled by Hine nui te pō, the goddess of death and night. Additional occupants include guardians, gods, goddesses, holy chiefs and nobles (rangatira), and the tūrehu, who are described as celestial, fairy like people. Rarohenga is predominantly depicted as a place of peace and light. In contemporary Māori society, Rarohenga continues to hold a collective, cultural significance. It is recorded that these art forms were first introduced to the human world by figures who travelled into Rarohenga and were bestowed with the sacred techniques to improve the secular world. Its name is derived from the mythological figure ‘Atua Rūaumoko’ – the unborn child of Ranginui and Papatūānuku of Rarohenga. The origin of the art is recorded in several variations. However, its conception is most commonly regarded as derivative of the Mataora myth. In this famous legend, the wisdom and knowledge of the permanent tattoo (tā moko) was gifted to humankind by the celestial Rangatira, Uetonga. It is explained that up until that point, Māori civilisation had only practiced the application of temporary tattoo. This was known as ‘hopara makaurangi’, and was achieved with soot, blue clay or red ochre. Uetonga would explain to Mataora the “worthlessness” of his temporary tattoo by wiping his hand across it and embarrassing Mataora by declaring it had no “mana” – meaning no honour, prestige, or authority. Uetonga agreed and taught Mataora the underworld's design of the nostrils (pōngiangia), the line tattooing of the eyebrows (tīwhana), the designs encompassing the mouth (pīhere), and the upper part of the nose (ngu).

Like the ‘tā moko’, the art of weaving was another artistic gift received from Rarohenga. Ornamental patterns and finger twinning were also acquired from Mataora's time in Rarohenga, and would too circulate heavily into Māori culture, art, and design.

Although the narrative of ‘Ruatepupuke’ is the most commonly accepted origin story of tribal woodcarving (whakairo) – Māori ethnographer Elsdon Best’s translations of the Mataora myth suggest the influence of Rarohenga’s entities in the cultural and artistic development of woodcarving practiced today. According to such mythology, Hawaiki represents the origin of all Polynesian people and where they return after death. held by the Māori was directed into the belief of Rarohenga. However, the Sky World or The Summit of Heavens is not as widely known or recorded as Rarohenga in traditional accounts.

When examining the mythology of Rarohenga, it is common for inconsistencies to arise between the oral stories, written accounts, and contemporary knowledge. Herbert Williams commented on this action, in reference to the famous Māori translator John White, as an academic act of “unpardonable recklessness”. As stated by Māori ethnographer Elsden Best: “Māori folk adapted the myths and teachings of Christianity. This is where ideas of the spirits of the evil person going to the underworld, and those good ascending to the heavens, crept into statements. Such beliefs were unbeknown to the Māori in pre missionary days”. Smith recorded that spirits who conducted evil would be eternally punished and presided over by malicious spirits (Whiro te tipua) in Rarohenga. Whereas the “good” spirits would ascend to the mountain of ‘Tawhiti nui’ and enter a realm of eternal reward. Critics such as Jahnke argue this as an example of cultural accommodation and assimilation to the Eurocentric belief of the afterlife that divides souls as good or evil.

Within Rarohenga, several Guardians, Gods and Goddesses have been recorded to occupy the realm. This includes:
+Primary DeityDescriptionHinenuitepōHinenuitepō is one of the most well known mythical figures of Rarohenga. She is the controller of human fate and destiny in death. She is also referred to as Hine tītama or ‘The Dawn Maid’, which was her identity before fleeing to the underworld upon finding out her husband Tāne was also her father. MakeatutaraMakeatutara is the father of Māui and executive Guardian of the Underworld. Makeatutara is acknowledged for making humankind mortal. UetongaUetonga is recognised as the celestial Chief or Noble, who gifted man with the wisdom and knowledge of the permanent tattoo and other significant artforms. NiwarekaNiwareka is recorded as a ‘tūrehu’ (fairy like individual), the daughter of Uetonga and the wife of Mataora. Niwareka would lead Mataora into Rarohenga after Mataora struck her during a disagreement, where he would discover the artistry of tattoo and weaving.

The Māori hold a deep connection to the land (whenua), which is evident in the continued, spiritual significance of real world locations because of their role in the soul's journey to Rarohenga. Cape Reinga (Te Rerenga Wairua) is one of the most well known spiritual sites in New Zealand. Mythology proposes that here the spirit descends into the underworld by sliding down the root of a tree into the sea. The spirit then travels underwater to the Three Kings Islands, where they climb the highest point of the island and bid their last goodbye to the human world. Explorer, Māori scholar and interpreter, Edward Shortland describes this location as a place where the spirit arrives at two hills after travelling northward. These hills are ‘Wai hokimai’ and ‘Wai otioti’, where the spirit strips off its worldly clothes, and finally turn its back on the land of the living. Shortland states, “there are two long straight roots, the lower extremities of which are concealed in the sea, while the upper ends cling to a pohutukawa tree. The spirit stands by the upper end of these roots, awaiting an opening in the seaweed floating on the water. The moment an opening is seen, it flies down to the Reinga. Reaching the Reinga, there is a river and a sandy beach. The spirit crosses the river. The name of the newcomer is shouted out. He is welcomed, and food is set before him. If he eats the food, he can never return to life” Additionally, there are several immaterial sites that are central to the geography of Rarohenga. This includes checkpoints such as Pou tere rangi, which is described as the Guard House and entry to the underworld. This site is manned by Te Ku Watawata, and divides Rarohenga to humankind. Original texts express that humans were once able to journey through this point and between worlds. However, after a heated disagreement between Te Ku Watawata and Mataora, the passage was closed to humans forever. Te Ku Watawata declared “never again will the door of the lower world be opened to the upper world, but only downward to the underworld; only spirits shall traverse both realms”.