Whiro
1. (personal name) atua of things associated with evil, darkness and death and a son of Rangi-nui and Papa-tū-ā-nuku. Whiro-te-tipua is the full name.
Te Pae-rangi: Ko te pakanga nui tēnei a nga tamariki a Rangi rāua ko Papa, arā a ngā atua Māori, ki a rātau anō; nā Whiro-te-tipua i whakatipu. Nā ka hinga a Whiro rātau ko tana ope; ko te take tēnā i heke ai a Whiro ki Rarohenga, ki te Muriwai-hou, arā ki Te Rēinga (M 2006:14). / Te Pae-rangi: This was the great battle of the children of Rangi and Papa, that is of the Māori atua, amongst themselves; it was Whiro-te-tipua who instigated it. Whiro and his forces were defeated; and that was the reason that Whiro fled to Rarohenga, to Muriwai-hou, that is to Te Rēinga.
See also atua
2. (personal noun) moon on the first night of the lunar month - for some tribes (e.g. Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) this is the sixteenth night of the lunar month - unsuitable day for planting and fishing, but good for eeling.
Whiro: Ka kōhiti te marama, he rā kino (TTT 1/7/1923:16). / New moon: The moon rises and its a bad day.
