Ku-watawata

Te Ku-watawata is a guardian of the underworld.

None may enter without his permission, and none may leave.

From the Lore of the Whare-Wananga

pp. 145

Mataora, Niwareka and their company, now went on towards the upper-world. When they reached Pou-tere-rangi (the guard house of Hades) they found Te Ku-watawata (guardian of the entrance to Hades) there. He asked them, “Mataora! What are those properties beneath you?” The latter replied, “The works of the world above are done in the night; those of the under-world, and the daylight to the under-world. The second properties are the moko-whakatara (wood-carving), moko-whakayao (face-tattooing), and whakairo-paepae-roa (ornamental pattern on the border of kaitaka mats); also the family of Ti-waiwaka and Patatai, who are traveling with us.” Te Ku-watawata then asked Niwareka, “What is in that bundle on your back?” She replied, “It is nothing; only our old garments” (she was lying).

They now came to the door of Pou-tere-rangi, where Te Ku-watawata again said “Mataora! The very origin, sprouts, the roots are henseforth cut off. The door of Pou-tere-rangi will never again be opened to [the living of] the world. But only those of the night [the spirits of the dead] will pass on to Rarohenga. The body will be separated off [and left] above, the spirit alone shall tread both the upper and the lower worlds.”

Mataora asked, “What is the reason for this?”

Te Ko-watawata replied, “Te Rangi-haupapa is with you! Why did you conceal it?” [The Rangi-haupapa is the garment that Uetonga gave to Mataora ] Then Niwareka took the garment out of her bundle, saying to Te Ku-watawata, “This is ‘Te Rangi-haupapa,’ leave it at ‘the origin, the sprouts and the roots,’ in Pou-tere-rangi there to become a pattern for the world and for Rarohenga.”

After these words of Niwareka Te Ku-watawata said, “It shall remain permanently here, ‘Te Rangi-haupapa’ will never be returned to Rarohenga, let it remain as a pattern for the ‘enduring world,’” which ended the matter.