This is the Māori version of Te Tuna, the gigantic eel deity. His name means ‘The Eel’ and has a rather rude connotation. No, we are not going to spell it out. Use your imagination. Think long slimy wiggly things.

He was certainly rather rude himself. Te Tunaroa had the hots for Hine, and whenever she went bathing he was always lurking in the pool watching her. But that creepiness wasn’t enough for him. One day he went too far and brushed against her lady parts.

Well, you can imagine the shock. Hine wasn’t into him at all and was utterly horrified. What a repulsive thing to happen. She rushed off and told Maui, who chopped Te Tunaroa into pieces there and then.

Each piece swam away and became a separate species of fish. Mostly slimy horrible repulsive ones. But at least they never tried anything naughty with innocent bathing ladies.

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Article last revised on April 30, 2019 by the Godchecker data dwarves.
Editors: Peter J. Allen, Chas Saunders

References: Coming soon.

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