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Te Arawa and its crew left Hawaiki after a conflict over food resources involving Houmaitawhiti and his sons Tamatekapua (Tama) and Whakatūria against the chiefs Toi and Uenuku.
Tama took up the challenge laid down by his father to seek a peaceful new home in the islands of New Zealand.
Over 30 Ngāti Ohomairangi tribe members accompanied Tama. Among them were Tama’s uncles, Tia and Hei, the twin sons of Atuamatua. The canoe was originally named Ngā rākau rua a Atuamatua (the two trunks of Atuamatua) in memory of their father.
During the voyage they had a perilous encounter with the great ocean creature, Te Parata, who almost swallowed them. However, they were delivered from the jaws of certain death by a mythical great shark, and the people renamed the canoe and themselves Te Arawa in its honour.
Crew
- Tama and his wife Whakaotirangi
- High Born Tōhunga aboard Te Arawa waka Ngātoro-i-rangi, Tohunga o te waka Te Arawa and his wife Kearoa
- Tia, of Te Arawa Waka
- Hei
- Hatupatu
- Taininihi
- Ihenga
- Kāhumatāmoemoe
- Tapuika, of Te Arawa Waka
- Waitaha
- Uruhoe
- Ika
- Oro
- Makaa
- Tuhoromatakaka
- Taramainuku
- Warenga
- Huarere