In Cook Islands mythology, who is the sky father?

In Cook Islands mythology, Vatea is the sky father.

Vatea, also written Avatea, is described in Mangaian tradition as the father of gods and men and as a sky and moon deity. His name is associated with “noon” or “light,” and his eyes are symbolically identified with the Sun and Moon. The spelling varies by island and source, so Vatea and Avatea refer to the same mythological figure in this context.

Creation begins with Varima-te-takere, the primordial mother, who creates children by plucking pieces from her body. Avatea is the first of these children and is portrayed as the first man, with one side human and the other fish-like. He later becomes the father of the gods.

Vatea’s wife is Papa, the earth goddess and his sister in the myth. Their twin sons are Tangaroa, associated with the sea, and Rongo, associated with vegetation. That family relationship is why Tangaroa and Rongo can seem plausible, but neither is the sky father.