The Maori believed that everything had a definite soul, two of the gods/legends are topu and mana Mana revealed itself in nature, land and some other things. Topu could applied to both men and women in both living and dead but Mana is stronger then Topu. Topu means: the principle for respect which enables good and proper decision
The traditional Māori whakapapa begins with Ranginui the Sky Father, and Papatūānuku who is the Earth Mother. They had some children, who are gods, Included amongst them are Tangaroa (parent/origin of water or god of the sea) and Tāne Mahuta the god of forest and man