Haumia-tiketike is the god of all uncultivated vegetative food in Māori mythology. He is particularly associated with the starchy rhizome of the Pteridium esculentum, which became a major element of the Māori diet in former times. He contrasts with Rongo, the god of Sweet potato#New Zealand and all cultivated food plants. In different tribal and regional variations of the stories involving him, he is often a son or grandson of Ranginui. He is frequently associated with Arawa traditions of the world's creation, in which he agreed to and attempted the separation of Rangi from his wife Papa.
After Haumia agreed to Rangi and Papa's forced separation to allow light and space into the world between them, he was the third child to attempt to push them apart with his arms. Despite Tāne being the one to successfully carry out the task, Haumia's involvement meant he was subjected to the fury of their brother Tāwhirimātea, god of winds and storms, who would have killed him if their mother had not hidden him and their brother Rongo-mā-Tāne under her bosom - that is, in the ground. While they had successfully escaped Tāwhirimātea's stormy wrath, they were later discovered by Tūmatauenga who felt betrayed that he was left to fend against Tāwhirimātea by himself, so when he saw Rongo-mā-Tāne's and Haumia-tiketike's hair and descendants sticking up out of the earth he harvested them with a wooden hoe and devoured them in revenge.
Genealogy
Many of these relatives may not be considered atua as gods or greater spirits themselves but may instead be atua as lesser spirits. The translations of their names represent abstract concepts and aspects of nature, not unlike polytheistic deities.
Parentage
Haumia-tiketike is a son of Ranginui and Papatūānuku, according to the tribes of the Arawa.
Elsdon Best noted that Haumia-tiketike was not recognised as a son of Ranginui and Papatūānuku by the tribes of the Tākitimu.
In Kāi Tahu traditions, Haumia-tiketike is a son of Tamanuiaraki, who is a son of Rakinui and Hekehekeipapa.
In the southern Bay of Plenty and parts of the east coast Haumia-tiketike is a son of Tāne Mahuta, who is the son of Ranginui and Papatūānuku. This is an area of origin for most Tākitimu iwi.
Siblings
Rongo-mā-Tāne, god of cultivated foods, particularly kūmara.
In Kāi Tahu's traditions and likely those of other iwi of Tākitimu, gods typically considered as Haumia-tiketike's brothers such as Rongo-mā-Tāne and Tāne Mahuta are instead his uncles or half-uncles. Haumia-tiketike being listed first, Tamanuiaraki's other offspring included:
Te Mōnehu is the child of Haumia-tiketike, its descendants are:
Namu - Namuiria was the first sandfly, killed by Tūmatauenga.
Waeroa
Rō
Aruhe
God of uncultivated food plants
Bracken
Food-quality rhizomes were only obtained from the Pteridium esculentum bracken growing in deep, moderately fertile soils. Bracken became abundant after the arrival of Māori, "mainly a result of burning to create open landscapes for access and ease of travel". Rhizomes were dug in early summer and then dried for use in the winter. Although it was not liked as much as kūmara, it was appreciated for its ready availability and the ease with which it could be stored. The rhizomes were air-dried so that they could be stored and become lighter. When ready for consumption, they were briefly heated and then softened with a patu aruhe ; the starch could then be sucked from the fibres, or collected to be prepared for a larger feast. Several distinct styles of patu aruhe were developed. The plants of the bracken genus contain the known carcinogenptaquiloside, identified to be responsible for haemorrhagic disease, as well as esophageal cancer, and gastric cancer in humans.
Other plants
A handful of other native plants from across New Zealand that are recorded as traditionally being used for food by Māori include:
Cordyline australis - Tīkōuka, the shoots and roots could be cooked and eaten, or used to make a sweet beverage.
Coriaria arborea - Tutu, the juices were extracted from the berries and petals, and could be used to sweeten fernroot, or boiled with seaweed to make a black jelly.
