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{{Short description|Man transformed into the first dog by Māui in Māori mythology}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
In [[Māori mythology]], '''Irawaru''' is the origin of the dog. He is the husband of [[Hinauri]], the sister of [[Māui (Māori mythology)|Māui]]. Māui becomes annoyed with Irawaru and stretches out his limbs, turning him into a dog. When Hinauri asks Māui if he has seen her husband, Māui tells her to call "Moi! Moi!" whereupon the poor dog runs up to Hinauri. Learning the truth, she throws herself to Tangaroa (the ocean) never to be seen again.<ref>Tregear 1891:107</ref>

Versions differ as to the cause of Māui's annoyance with his brother-in-law. In some, he is jealous of Irawaru's success at fishing; in others, he is angry at Irawaru's refusal to give him a cloak, or disgusted at Irawaru's greedy nature.

In other [[Ngāpuhi|Ngā Puhi Nui Tonu]] mythology, three dogs were brought to Aotearoa by Kupe. These spirits were known as [[kehua]] or guardians brought over from Hawaiki. During the arrival to Aotearoa they were sent to [[Cape Reinga]] with a few men to guard the escape of their souls. The [[iwi]] later was named Ngāti Kurī. Their job was to guard the spirits through to the [[afterlife]].

In traditional Māori society, dogs (''[[kurī]]'') were given the best cuts of meat and were highly regarded as sacred. Their fur was highly regarded for cloaks reserved for [[rangatira]].

The story accounts for the characteristics of dogs: they warn of danger or night raids, they respond to commands, and are loyal companions that ward off evil spirits.<ref>Tremewan 2002:95–96</ref>

==See also==
* [[Tinirau and Kae]]
* [[Kurī]]

==Notes==
<references />

==References==
*E.R. Tregear, ''Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary'' (Lyon and Blair: Lambton Quay, 1891).
*C. Tremewan,  ''Traditional Stories from Southern New Zealand: He Kōrero nō Te Wai Pounamu'' ([[Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies]]: Christchurch), 2002.

[[Category:Māori mythology]]
[[Category:Mythological dogs]]
[[Category:Legendary Māori people]]


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