Culture

In the beginning there was Te Kore - the nothingness.
Out of this great nothingness came Te Po - the night, Te Poroa - the long night and Te Po Nui - the greatest night. Eventually came Te Ata - the dawn.
Behold, there was Ranganui the Sky Father with his beloved Papatuanuku, the Earth Mother, in his arms. One of their children, Tane Mahua forced them far apart. The Sky Father above and the Earth Mother  below.               
Ranganui's son, Aoraki and his brothers left on a voyage to visit the Earth Mother when disaster struck. Their waka (canoe) became stranded upon a reef in the ocean. To save themselves they climbed on top of the great canoe and the cold southern wind froze them, turing them to stone. And so the great land was born. 
The great waka became the South Island of New Zealand. The brothers became particular mountains and peaks of Te Tiritiri o Te Moan, the Southern Alps.
And Aoraki, the tallest of the brothers, became its highest peak. Standing proud.
Aoraki the guardian - Aoraki Te Atua

See the Ngai Tahu Creation Legend in Mount Cook Magic in 3D