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Te whakatuwheratanga o Te Tumu Herenga Waka : 6 Tihema 1986, Poneke, Te Whare Wananga o Wikitoria

6a. TAHU POTIKI and TAREWAI

6a. TAHU POTIKI and TAREWAI

6a TAHU/TAREWAI

6a TAHU/TAREWAI

Tahu Potiki was a descendant of Toi kairakau, Uenuku, Kahutiaterangi, Paikea and Ruatapu.

The story has it that Tahu was first named Te Tuhi-Mareikura-o-Oho after the fact that he was born in the evening at Whangara when the western sky was flushed red with the rays of the setting sun, the sign of fine weather. He was also known as Tahumatua (the originator of various lines of prestigious descent), a fact which has led today to considerable confusion amongst those who study genealogy.

Tahu moved southwards from Whangara to the Maraetaha and Wairoa districts. There are traditions relating to his occupation of Tukemokihi, north of Wairoa and inland from Whakaki. He was at Arapaoa when he heard that his brother, Porourangi, had died. He returned to the East Coast and married his brother's widow, Hamoterangi. The result of that union was the birth of Tahu-Murihape.

TAREWAI

Tarewai was a famous Ngai Tahu warrior renowned for his athletic ability and a famous leap. He migrated to the Otakou Peninsula from the Kaikoura — Whareraupo (Lyttleton) area. At the Otakou Peninsula, he came into conflict with the Ngati Mamoe people and was captured by them together with his mere pounamu, a famous weapon. He managed to escape, although he had been wounded. Later he returned and approached the Ngati Mamoe campfire at night and saw them examining his mere pounamu. He joined them and asked if he too might examine the weapon. They gave it to him, whereupon he jumped up and slew them all. He ran out along the Peninsula while being pursued by Ngati Mamoe warriors, and leapt over a point still known today as — Te Rereka a Tarewai, and ran off and made his way to Fiordland.

He eventually died in the battle known as Te Harakeke, which took page 21 place on Resolution Island. Ngati Mamoe were entrenched there but they had prepared the landing beach with wet flax, so that when the Ngai Tahu people under Tarewai attacked they lost their footing. Ngati Mamoe were thus able to fight Ngai Tahu off and in the ensuing battle Tarewai was fatally wounded. He was laid to rest with his mere pounamu in a limestone cave.