[Tennessee Nana]

As a child I learnt that one of them was out in his canoe ...the South Island...

and caught a big fish ...the North island...

[marshmallow]

Yes, you are correct about how Kupe pulled NZ out of the ocean.

However, in Maori mythology the "god" with the creative power is Tane. That is to say "creative" in the sense of giving life to man and woman.