Hineahuone

In Māori mythology, Hineahuone  (or Hine-ahu-one) is the first human woman, whose name translates to "earth-formed woman".

Creation Story

Following the separation of Ranginui (the sky father) and Papatūānuku (the earth mother), their son Tāne-mahuta (atua of forests) sought to create a human form.

The Act of Formation: Guided by Papatūānuku, Tāne went to the sacred lands of Kurawaka, where he fashioned a female form from red ochre clay.

The Breath of Life: Tāne breathed life into her nostrils. This act caused her to sneeze, leading to the famous Māori saying "Tihei Mauri Ora" ("the sneeze of life"), which acknowledges the first breath of humankind.

Hineahuone is regarded as the progenitor of the human race. 

Union with Tāne: She and Tāne became the first human couple, establishing the male and female elements necessary to perpetuate human life.

Hinetītama: Their daughter, Hinetītama, was the first human born. According to tradition, after discovering Tāne was her father, Hinetītama fled to the underworld and became Hine-nui-te-pō, the goddess of death who cares for the spirits of the deceased.