The Maori legends of the creation are shared with other Polynesian cultures in several parts of the Pacific. The legends say that 'Rangi', 'the Sky Father', had been joined in an amorous embrace with 'Papa', 'the Earth Mother'. This clasp left the world in perpetual darkness, and the nakedness of Papa was covered with vegetation that thrived in dark moisture. The many sons of Rangi and Papa constantly lamented the miserable conditions that they had to endure between their parents. Eventually they resolved to do something about them. One 'Tu-matauenga', the fiercest of the offspring and the guardian of war, spoke out and suggested that the parents could only be separated if they were killed. But 'Tane-mahuta', guardian of the forest and later to be father of mankind, answered, "No, not so. It is better to separate them, and to let the sky stand far above us and the earth lie below here. Let the sky be a stranger to us, but let earth remain close to us as our nursing mother." All but one of the sons agreed to this course of action and they took turns to separate their parents. First 'Rongomatane', rose up and strove to force the heavens from the earth. When Rongomatane failed, 'Tangaroa', guardian of all things that live in the sea, rose up. He struggled mightily, but had no luck. And next 'Haumiatiketike' tried without success. So then Tu-matauenga, guardian of war, leapt up. Yet even Tumatauenga, the fiercest of the children, could not with all his strength sever Rangi from Papa. So then it became the turn of 'Tane-mahuta'. Slowly, slowly as the kauri tree did Tane-mahuta rise between the Earth and Sky. At first he strove with his arms to move them, but with no success. And so he paused, and the pause was an immense period of time. Then he placed his shoulders against the Earth, his Mother, and his feet against the Sky, his Father. He thrust with all his strength. Far beneath him he pressed the Earth. Far above he thrust the Sky, and held him there. The sinews that bound them were stretched, taunt. Tu-matauenga sprang up and slashed at the bonds that bound his parents and the blood spilt red on the earth. Today this is the 'kokowai' or 'Ochre', the sacred red earth that was created when the first blood was spilt at the dawn of time. Finally the separation was accomplished and the children of Rangi and Papa knew light for the first time and the children of 'Tane' - the trees, birds and insects of the forest - were able to breathe, see and move. 'Tawhiri-matea', the only son to have objected to the separation, was so angered by the pain suffered by his parents and the regard with which Tane-mahuta was now held by other living things that he followed Rangi to the realm above and there begot his own offspring, the wind, rain and storms. He unleashed these on the children of Tane in retribution. He hurled himself down from the skies as a hurricane and uprooted Tane's trees. Eventually, after attacking all his other brothers, Tawhiri-matea returned to the Sky whence he and his children continue to descend from time to time to plague the Earth and her occupants. It was 'Tane-mahuta' who then created the first woman out of earth and procreated with her. Their descendants, produced a line of men-like gods and god like men.