TU-MATAUENGA The fierce god of humanbeings, in Maori myth. Trapped inside the womb by their parents, the gods sought toescape by slaying their parents, and Tu-matauenga was left to fight Tawhiri-ma-tea, alone, for the storm god opposed the slaying of his parents. In rage, Tu-matauengaconsumed the rest of the gods. Ever afterwards, Tu-matauenga and Tawhiri-ma-teawere eternal enemies.