Tūmatauenga, the fiercest of the children, proposes that the best solution to their problem is to kill their parents. But his brother Tāne disagrees, suggesting that it is better to push them apart, to let Ranginui be in the sky above while Papatūānuku will remain below to look after them. After many attempts Tāne, god of forests and birds, forces his parents apart. Instead of standing upright and pushing with his hands as his brothers have done, he lies on his back and pushes with his strong legs. Pushing with all his strength, Tāne pushes and pushes until, with cries of grief and surprise, Ranginui and Papatūānuku were pried apart.