Towards an understanding of Io through Atuatanga

Abstract

The debate concerning the authenticity of Io (personal name for the Supreme Being) is a complicated and extensive one. For some, Io is a fabricated reflection of the Christian God. For others, Io is a genuine Māori deity which can also be traced elsewhere in the Pacific. However, from a Māori theological perspective, hard lines and definitions regarding Māori spirituality are pointless. Following the Reverend Māori Marsden who posited that only Māori are capable of understanding Māori spirituality and Pā (Father) Henare Tate who developed a Māori theology based on Atua (God), tangata (people), and whenua (land), this article will develop a novel way of attempting to understand Io despite the ongoing debate about his authenticity.