Poutama
 
Stepped pattern of tukutuku panels and woven mats - symbolising genealogies and also the various levels of learning and intellectual achievement. Some say they represent the steps which Tāne-o-te-wānanga ascended to the topmost realm in his quest for superior knowledge and religion.
 
Here follows an abridged version of the story as told by the Rangitaane, Ngati Kahungunu and Ngati Ira people of the Wairarapa region of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
 
According to the ancients there are twelve Rangi or realms, which some call heavens, beyond this earthly realm; these are their names:-
Tikitiki-o-rangi
Tiritiri-o-matangi
Rangi-naonao-ariki
Rangi-te-wanawana
Rangi-nui-ka-tika
Rangi-mataura
Tauru-rangi
Rangi-matawai
Rangi-mareikura
Rangi-parauri
Rangi-tamaku
Rangi-nui-a-tamaku-rangi
This last one is the realm of Rangi-nui, Sky Father, and is the nearest to our earthly realm.
In each of these realms reside both male and female "Apa", spiritual beings.
Io, the supreme spiritual power, resides in the uppermost, at Tikitiki-o-rangi. Many are his names:-
Ko Io
Ko Io-nui (almighty)
Ko Io-Roa (eternal)
Ko Io-Matua (parent)
Ko Io-te-Wananga (all wise)
Ko Io-taketake (foundation of all)
Ko Io-te-waiora (fountain-head of life)
Ko Io-Matangaro (hidden )
Ko Io-Tikitiki-o-Rangi (supreme over all realms)
Ko Io-te-Whiwhia ( all encompassing)
Ko Io-Mataaho (glorious one)
Io decided that one of the children of Ranginui and Papatuanuku should ascend to his uppermost realm to obtain the three baskets of knowledge, the wananga, for the children of the primal parents, and for mankind to come. So he sent his messengers, Rehua, Ruatau and Paoa down to earth to report to him about things in that realm. On their return he decided that the seeker of knowledge should be chosen from among the offspring of Rangi and Papa by the offspring themselves. He said "Go to Tu-te-aniwaniwa, to Wharau-rangi, to Huaki-pouri and ask who among them shall seek the wananga". Whiro-te-tipua, Uru-te-ngangana and others lived at Tu-te-aniwaniwa. Tumatauenga, Tamakaka, Rongmaraeroa and others lived at Wharau-rangi. Tane, Paia and others lived at Huaki-pouri.
Whiro said that he would be the one to get it, but those at Wharau-rangi said it should be Tane. When Rehua asked the question at Huaki-pouri Tane said "I will ascend to the uppermost realm to get the wananga and the two sacred stones." He said he would ascend by way of "Te Toi Huarewa", the "aratiatia". Some say that these names apply to the whirlwind. Suffice to say that it is the sacred way.
Rehua said to Tane "Follow us and ascend to the entrance to the uppermost realm", but Tane demurred saying that the winds were violent at that time, and the upper realms disturbed, and that he would follow in the summer. The messengers, Rehua, Ruatau and Paoa then returned to Io.
When summer came Tane called upon Tawhiri-matua, God of winds, to help convey him on his journey, and they set out; Tane, Te Haeata, Tawhiri-matea, Uruao, Tukapua, Taka-wairangi, Rangi-ihi-matua and others. And they arrived at the second of the twelve realms or heavens, Rangi-tamaku, and consulted with the many winds, among them Huru-te-arangi (who agreed that Tane would be conveyed to the uppermost realm), Huru-mawake, Huru-nukuatea and Huru-nukurangi. The resting place of these Wind Children was at Tihi-o-Manono, at Rangi-naonao-ariki, the tenth of the twelve realms.
On their arrival there, Tane and Taka-wairangi had a ceremony performed for them through which they were prepared for entry to the uppermost realm, and they were instructed not to eat or drink until they returned for another ceremony to prepare them for their return to Papatuanuku, Earth Mother.
So Tane, Te Haeata and Taka-wairangi were then conveyed to Tiritiri-o-Matangi, the eleventh realm. Then Te Haeata and Taka-wairangi turned back.
Tane then left for the entrance to Tikitiki-o-rangi (the uppermost) but when passing Rangi-naonao-ariki he was attacked by hordes of Pepetua, or spiritual demons of the insect and bird clan. These were bidden to do so by Tane's older brother, Whiro-te-tipua, who wanted Tane slain or wounded. But the attack was thwarted by the many winds, offspring of Tawhiri-matea, who whirled and whirled so that the attackers did not even get near to Tane. This incident is known as Kopara-kore. 
On arrival at the entrance to Tikitiki-o-rangi Tane was met by the many spirtual beings who guarded that place, and who live at the house called Tawhiri-rangi. The door in the middle of the house is called Te Pumotomoto and it leads to the eleven lower realms, and to this earthly realm. The doorway to Tikitiki-o-Rangi is called Tahurangi. So Tane was conducted to Tikitiki-o-Rangi, and underwent another ceremony, before being conducted to the presence of Io.
"Are you alone?" Io asked.
"My elder brother, Whiro-te-tipua, is ascending by way of the side of the realms", replied Tane.
Io replied that he would not succeed for the winds of Tiritiri-o-Matangi are fierce. "Why are you here?".
"To obtain the baskets of knowledge and the sacred stones", said Tane.
Tane was then taken to the place called Rauroha where the male and female beings of Tikitiki-o-Rangi are, and where he underwent ritual ceremonies to prepare him to receive the knowledge. It was during these that he received his many names, including -
Tane-nui-a-rangi
Tane-matua
Tane-te-Wananga
Tane-te-Waiora
Tane-Torokaha
Tane-Uetika
Tane-te-Whawhanga
Tane-Tahurangi
He was then conducted to Rangiatea, the house where the knowledge is kept to get the three baskets and the two sacred stones, and again was subjected to ritual ceremonies. Te Kete-o-te-Wananga, the baskets of knowledge are:-
Te Kete Tuauri
Te Kete Tuatea
Te Kete Aronui
The sacred stones are used in the graduation ceremony of the Whare Wananga, house of learning.
The spiritual beings of that place, Tikitiki-o-Rangi, then escorted Tane with the three baskets and two stones on his descent from there. When they got to Tiritiri-o-Matangi they were joined by the winds of Tawhirimatea, and when they arrived at Rangi-naonao-Ariki they were once again attacked by the forces of Whiro-te-tipua. Once again the wind forces were victorious and the attackers defeated. Some were captured and Tane brought them to live on Papatuanuku, Earth Mother. They included Bat, Owl, Mountain Parrot, Brown Parrot, Sparrow-hawk, Night-parrot, Parakeet, Green Lizard, Mosquito, Sandfly, Midge, Butterfly, Mantis, Moth, Fly and others.
So Tane returned to Earth with his precious items, and once again there was a ritual ceremony; a ceremony preserved down through the generations of learned men of Te Whare Wananga, the sacred Maori house of learning.