In 1877, Te Maiharoa arose as a Maori Prophet in Te Waipounamu, the South Island.
Using his bible based faith, he was well known for performing miracles, healing and removing tapu. He often used a ceremony including fire and karakia to confront evil spirits.
The Demon-Atua in this work is based on Hine-nui-te-pō, also known as the 'Great Woman of Night'.She is the Māori goddess of death and the underworld(Rarohenga) . During the 19th-century introduction of Christianity to New Zealand, Māori traditional deities (atua) were frequently reinterpreted by many Māori converts—as demons or malevolent spirits, rather than divine beings.
"I have been asked lately why a female demon? I am in some way referencing the Goddess of death and darkness Hine-nui-te-pō, Many Maori who turned to christianity in the 1800's began to see some of their old gods in a semi demonic context . These spirits or gods were believed to possess and hold Tapu and Maketu over a certain person or a place." Brett a'Court 2025
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