In Māori mythology, Whiro is the god of darkness and evil.
Whiro, also called Whiro-te-tipua, is described as the lord of darkness and an embodiment of evil, death, illness, and misfortune. Māori traditions commonly place him in Taiwhetuki, a dark underworld or “House of Death.” He is often portrayed as lizard-like, and geckos, skinks, and tuatara could carry negative spiritual associations because of their connection with him.
In some accounts, the dead descend to the underworld, where Whiro consumes their bodies and grows stronger. The story reflects a fear that he might eventually escape and devour the living world. Some traditions therefore regarded cremation as a way to deny him strength from a corpse.
Whiro is often contrasted with Tāne, his brother and enemy, who is associated with forests, birds, and the separation of earth and sky. He should not be confused with Tūmatauenga, the atua of war, or with another Whiro: a Polynesian voyager who shares the name. Whiro is also a Māori name for the planet Mercury.