The milky way
There are two myths, for the milky way. The first belief is that Māngōroa is the Māori name for a shark. The shark was placed into space by Māui. The shark, as well as many other sea creatures, like rays, are like the children of Punga, otherwise known as the "ugly god". The shark protects the Māori tribes back on earth. The other myth is that the Milky Way is the sea in the heavens. The god, Kiho-tumu, made a ship called The Long Shark and sailed across the heavens sky. The Māori people believed The Long Shark was protecting them. They also believed the dark patches found in the sky are The Long Shark, and the white patches being the waves as the ship travels through the sea.