Niuean mythology relates to some of the myths prevalent on the island of

Niue Niue (, ; niu, Niuē) is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand. Niue's land area is about and its population, predominantly Polynesian, was about 1,600 in 2016. Niue is located in a triangle between Tong ...

, an Oceanic island country in free association with

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

. Although Niuean mythology reports a colonization before 500 AD, the island was settled by

Polynesia Polynesia () "many" and νῆσος () "island"), to, Polinisia; mi, Porinihia; haw, Polenekia; fj, Polinisia; sm, Polenisia; rar, Porinetia; ty, Pōrīnetia; tvl, Polenisia; tkl, Polenihia (, ) is a subregion of Oceania, made up of ...

ns from

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands ( Manono and Apolima); ...

around 900 AD.

Encyclopædia Britannica The (Latin for "British Encyclopædia") is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia. It is published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.; the company has existed since the 18th century, although it has changed ownership various t ...

, "Niue" The five principal gods of Niue are known as the ''tupua'' (principle gods of Niue), and include

Fao The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)french: link=no, Organisation des Nations unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture; it, Organizzazione delle Nazioni Unite per l'Alimentazione e l'Agricoltura is an intern ...

, Huanaki,

Fakahoko In Niuean mythology, Fakahoko is one of the gods of the island. He is cited as one of the five original gods ( tupua) of the island who fled from the lost country of Fonuagalo. A story told is that Fao, along with Laga-iki Niuean mythology relates ...

Laga-iki Niuean mythology relates to some of the myths prevalent on the island of Niue, an Oceanic island country in free association with New Zealand. Although Niuean mythology reports a colonization before 500 AD, the island was settled by Polynesians from ...

, and

Lagi-atea Niuean mythology relates to some of the myths prevalent on the island of Niue, an Oceanic island country in free association with New Zealand. Although Niuean mythology reports a colonization before 500 AD, the island was settled by Polynesians from ...

, who by various accounts, arrived from ''Fonuagalo'' (the lost country), Tulia, Toga-liulu, or perhaps other islands. In

Avatele Avatele, formerly known as Oneonepata Matavaihala, is one of the fourteen villages of Niue, located on the southwest coast, with a population of 143 residents as of 2017. Geography Avatele Beach, the village's main sea track, stretches along the ...

myths, the gods are said to have come from within the earth instead of ''Fonuagalo''. There are also many other gods in Niuean mythology from fish gods to flying rats.

Background

According to Peniamina, a Pacific Island missionary stationed on the island, the islanders consider Huanaki and

as their ancestors. They believe that Huanaki and Fao were the first to locate the island which had slightly surfaced above the ground with the sea striking its shores. As they landed on the island, they brought down their feet in a forcible action upon the island surface twice; at the first stomping, the water (tides) receded, resulting in emergence of land, and with the second stomping, greenery in the form of grass, trees and other vegetation was created. The Nui myths of the Pacific islands have been interpreted as a result of two coseismic-uplift events that had occurred at the island in the past 2,000 years, akin to a similar situation prevalent in several areas of the southwest and west Pacific Islands. The uplift produced by earthquakes could be the reason for relating them to the stomping myths of Niue and also from Tonga.

Deities

The five ''tupua'' (principle gods of Niue) are Fao, Fakahoko, Huanaki, Laga-iki, and Lagi-atea. According to myth the first to set foot on the island was Fao, followed by Huanaki. It is also said that Fao was one of the five principal gods of Niue (''tupua''), said to have arrived on Niue beneath a pool on the reef near the base of the cliffs, and to have then "ascended to build a residence at Toga-liulu".

is a war god and one of the five major gods of the island.

is one of the five principal gods of Niue, and is said to have caused death in the universe. Lagihalulu forebodes ill luck. Lage-iki is another of the five major gods of the islanders; he has many children and is said to reside in the western region of the island; he is the cause of death in the world. Many other gods and goddesses are mentioned in Niuean mythology: *

Atelapa Niuean mythology relates to some of the myths prevalent on the island of Niue, an Oceanic island country in free association with New Zealand. Although Niuean mythology reports a colonization before 500 AD, the island was settled by Polynesians from ...

– the god of the ''kale'' (Porphyrio bird). *Fakakonaatua – represents meteors and thunder, and is worshiped before battle to poison the gods of the enemy. *Fakapaete – a god who protects against attack by stones. *Halapouli – a god who is said to be invoked when throwing a spear. * Halevao – the god of the ''peka'' (flying fox). According to legend, Halevao and Tamalafafa the pigeon came from a grave to "fly along the way of Nuku-tapa and Oloolo, which is a burnt forest; and they descended to the cliffs and the top of the cliffs on the coast". * Haliua – the god of the ''uga'' (crab). *

Hokohoko Niuean mythology relates to some of the myths prevalent on the island of Niue, an Oceanic island country in free association with New Zealand. Although Niuean mythology reports a colonization before 500 AD, the island was settled by Polynesians from ...

– goddess of Niue. *Lagiofa – a god recalled during war. *Lagitaitaia – a god of fish with stripes on its body who is said to quiet the sea following a storm. *Lata – a wise god of benevolence. *Liavaha – a fish god who after a sea storm quiets the sea. *Luatotolo – a god who can force all other gods to the seabed. *Luatupua – one of the major gods on the southern region of the island who is also capable of forcing other gods to the bottom of the sea. *Lageikiua, Lagihulugia and Lagiloa are other gods of the island. *Makapoelagi – the god of the sky. *Makapoe-Lagi is one of the major gods of the eastern part of the island. *Tafehemoana – a powerful sea god. *Tagaloa-fofoa, Tagaloa-lahi, Tagaloa-motumotu, Tagaloa-uluulu are Niue goddesses. * Tamalafafa – the god of the pigeon. * Tihatala – the god of the ''tuaki'' (tropical bird) * Tilalofonua – the god of the ''kuma'' (rat) and bird of the heavens. According to myth, Tilalofonua was said to have begged Halevao for some wings, but to no avail. He prayed for a long time and was eventually granted them by Halevao after demonstrating his love. * Tolioatua – the Hunger god and god of thieves.

References

Bibliography

* * * {{Niue mythology