Irawaru
Encyclopedia
In Māori mythology
, Irawaru is the origin of the dog. He is the husband of Hinauri
, the sister of Māui
. Māui becomes annoyed with Irawaru and stretches out his limbs, turning him into a dog. In some stories, Irawaru as a dog eats faeces. When Hinauri asks Māui if he has seen her husband, Māui tells her to call “Moi! Moi!” whereupon the poor dog runs up, and Hinauri, learning the truth, throws herself into the sea (Tregear 1891:107).
Versions differ as to the cause of Māui's annoyance with his brother-in-law. In some, he is jealous of Irawaru's success at fishing; in others, he is angry at Irawaru's refusal to give him a cloak, or disgusted at Irawaru's greedy nature. In traditional Māori society, the relationship of brothers to their sisters was close, and many stories deal with the tension and rivalry between brothers-in-law. The story accounts for the characteristics of dogs: they share human homes and food, they respond to commands, but they also have some habits that people find disgusting (Tremewan 2002:95-96).
Maori mythology
Māori mythology and Māori traditions are the two major categories into which the legends of the Māori of New Zealand may usefully be divided...
, Irawaru is the origin of the dog. He is the husband of Hinauri
Hinauri
In Māori mythology, Hinauri is the sister of Māui and the wife of Irawaru. Māui becomes annoyed with Irawaru and stretches out his limbs, turning him into a dog. When Hinauri asks Māui if he has seen her husband, Māui tells her to call “Moi! Moi!” whereupon the poor dog runs up, and Hinauri,...
, the sister of Māui
Maui (Maori mythology)
In Māori mythology, Māui is a culture hero famous for his exploits and his trickery.-Māui's birth:The offspring of Tū increased and multiplied and did not know death until the generation of Māui-tikitiki . Māui is the son of Taranga, the wife of Makeatutara...
. Māui becomes annoyed with Irawaru and stretches out his limbs, turning him into a dog. In some stories, Irawaru as a dog eats faeces. When Hinauri asks Māui if he has seen her husband, Māui tells her to call “Moi! Moi!” whereupon the poor dog runs up, and Hinauri, learning the truth, throws herself into the sea (Tregear 1891:107).
Versions differ as to the cause of Māui's annoyance with his brother-in-law. In some, he is jealous of Irawaru's success at fishing; in others, he is angry at Irawaru's refusal to give him a cloak, or disgusted at Irawaru's greedy nature. In traditional Māori society, the relationship of brothers to their sisters was close, and many stories deal with the tension and rivalry between brothers-in-law. The story accounts for the characteristics of dogs: they share human homes and food, they respond to commands, but they also have some habits that people find disgusting (Tremewan 2002:95-96).