Tānemoeahi

Tūhoe, his two elder brothers, Ue-imua and Tānemoeahi, and sister Uenuku-rauiri lived in the Rūātoki valley, 32 kilometres upstream from where the Ōhinemataroa River flows into Te Moana-a-Toitehuatahi (Bay of Plenty). The pā of Tūhoe-pōtiki were Te Mauku and Ngā Taumata; Tānemoeahi occupied Te Pūtiki pā, and Ue-imua resided at Kākā-tarahae pā.

The brothers had a fearsome reputation, and were known throughout the region as Te Tokotoru-a-Paewhiti (the three sons of Paewhiti). Because of their ferocity in battle, the following saying arose:

• Kainga te kai, kei te haere te tokotoru a Paewhiti!
• Eat and run, the three sons of Paewhiti are on the rampage!

A dispute arose among them over rights to cultivations near Ōwhakatoro Stream, a western tributary of the Ōhinemataroa River. Ue-imua threated to kill Tūhoe-pōtiki and eat his heart. Warfare erupted between the brothers and their people. Tānemoeahi sided with Tūhoe against Ue-imua. In the ensuing battle it was Ue-imua who was killed and his heart consumed by Tūhoe; by this act Tūhoe acquired the mana of his elder brother. Source: https://teara.govt.nz/en/ngai-tuhoe/print