Meet Hine Raumati
The Love Story of Tamanui Te Rā and Hine Raumati
Our tūpuna had a beautiful way of understanding the world - through stories that connected them to the rhythms of nature. One of my favourite pūrākau is about Tamanui Te Rā, the sun, and his two wives: Hine Takurua, his winter maiden, and Hine Raumati, his summer maiden.
It’s a story or aroha, sure, but it’s also mātauranga (knowledge) - a way of explaining the movements of the sun and the changing seasons.
The Sun’s Journey
Have you ever noticed that the sun doesn’t always rise from the same spot on the horizon? It shifts throughout the year, rising closer to the northeast in winter and the southeast in summer.
Our tūpuna understood this shift intimately. They saw it as Tamanui Te Rā spending time with his two wives.
During winter, Tamanui Te Rā rises with Hine Takurua. She’s a star who brings cold, short days and long nights. She keeps him on a tight leash and so he spends less time with us, and the world feels colder and gloomier.
But eventually, he begins his journey back towards his summer maiden, Hine Raumati. Each day, he rises a little closer to the southeast, until finally, on December 22nd, the summer solstice, he rises with Hine Raumati.
Hine Raumati brings out the best in him. The days become longer and warmer, the pōhutukawa bloom, and the wairua of summer fills the air. It’s the season of backyard cricket, afternoon barbecues, and of course, fish and chips shared under the golden glow of Tamanui Te Rā.
Tracking the Sun: The Science in the Story
This pūrākau wasn’t just a poetic way of describing the seasons - it was critical mātauranga.
By tracking where the sun rose and set, our tūpuna could align their lives with the world around them. They knew when to plant and harvest crops, when to store kai for winter, and when conditions were best for fishing.
The spring and autumn equinoxes, when the day and night are equal, marked the midpoints in Tamanui Te Rā’s journey between his two wives. These moments, too, were crucial for understanding the cycles of the environment.
For our tūpuna, this wasn’t abstract science - it was life and survival.
Celebrating Hine Raumati
So, when will Tamanui Te Rā rise in the morning with Hine Raumati this year? On December 22nd, the summer solstice - the longest day of the year.
If the hype of Christmas doesn’t resonate with you, here’s another reason to celebrate. Take a moment to honour the union of Tamanui Te Rā and Hine Raumati, the couple responsible for the warmth, joy, and beauty of summer.
Take some time to get outside, feel the heat of Tamanui Te Rā on your skin, and soak in the vibrant energy of Hine Raumati - but not without a healthy slip slop slap of course!
Re-sync with the taiao (environment) and enjoy the next few weeks!
Ngā mihi,
Anton
