Tūmaro

Tūmaro settled in Waimea, near Nelson with a group of family members and friends who went with him. He left his wife and the child behind.

The young boy was given the name of Te Hikutawatawa (Te Hiku-tawatawa-o-te-raki). It seems Te Hikutawatawa learned of his illegitimate status when he overheard other children/adults referred to him as a "bastard" during his childhood. When he asked his mother her reply was "Look where the sun sets; that is where your father dwells". The visit of Tūāhuriri to the home of Tūmaro

Years later Tūāhuriri would venture with a waka taua to the Waimea home of Tūmaro. As an unknown party the visitors were welcomed. However, in those times the tangata whenua (home people) also prepared to overpower them (as perceived enemies) and would then have cooked and eaten them.

Inside the whare Tūāhuriri made comments about the rafter patterns and likened them to the designs left behind at Kaiwhakawaru by his grandfather Kahukura-te-paku. When this tale was told to his grandfather he replied, "Ask him his name?" It is said that Tūmaro asked him to say his name to which Tūāhuriri replied that he was Te Hikutawatawa the name given him by his father.

Because the intention had been to cook Tūāhuriri an act defiling his mana had occurred, so he was asked to climb through the window to remove the tapu. He climbed out and was greeted by his father and grandfather. When he was ready to return to Wellington, they asked him to return in the autumn when they could provide better hospitality to his party. However, he did not forget their treatment and the indignity and loss of mana involved. Instead of returning in autumn he delayed and went back in spring when the food supplies were low. When all the food was eaten he and his party left for Wellington.

Sometime soon after his departure the house where he had stayed burnt down and the site became tapu. After a time wild cabbages grew on the site. The people starved of food ate the greens which were now tapu and many died. It was after this event that Tūāhuriri was given this name referring to the offence given to a sacred place. A tūāhu was a sacred altar and riri means to be angry.

As for Tūāhuriri his story ends with his tragic drowning along with his father Tūmaro when his single canoe capsized.