Who is the Maori god of the forest?

Tāne is the Māori god of the forest. He is also associated with birds and is known by extended names including Tāne-mahuta and Tāne-nui-a-Rangi.

In a major Māori creation story, Tāne is one of the children of Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatūānuku, the earth mother. Their close embrace left their children in darkness, so the siblings debated how to create space. Tāne eventually pushed his parents apart with his legs, sending Ranginui high above and leaving Papatūānuku below.

After the separation, Tāne placed stars, the Moon, and the Sun in the sky to adorn his father. Other traditions credit him with creating the first human, Tiki, or with bringing baskets of sacred knowledge down from the heavens. The trees and birds of the forest are commonly regarded as his descendants or children.

Tū, one of the wrong options, is the Māori god of war and a sibling of Tāne. Rongo is associated with cultivated food and peace, while Tangaroa is the god of the sea. Tāne’s name also lives on in Tāne Mahuta, a famous giant kauri tree in Waipoua Forest.