{{Short description|Māori chieftain}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2024}} '''Tamatea Arikinui''' or '''Tamatea Mai-Tawhiti''' was a [[Māori people|Māori]] ''[[ariki]]'' (chieftain), who captained the ''[[Tākitimu]]'' canoe on its journey from [[Hawaiki]] to New Zealand, where he settled at [[Tauranga]] and became the ancestor of the [[Ngāti Kahungunu]] ''[[iwi]]''. J. H. Mitchell places Tamatea in the mid-fourteenth century.{{sfn|Mitchell|2014|p=24}} In Ngāti Kahungunu tradition, he is distinguished from his grandson [[Tamatea Urehaea]] who undertook extensive explorations of New Zealand. Northland and Tauranga traditions say that they were the same person.{{sfn|Taonui|2005|p=6}}
==Life== Tamatea was born and raised in Hawaiki, the legendary homeland of the Māori before they came to New Zealand. J. H. Mitchell's history of Ngāti Kahungunu provides no information on his ancestry or early life. In Hawaiki, Tamatea became an Arikinui ("great chieftain"), who led the tribes of Ngāti Hukumoana, Ngāti Hakuturi, and Ngāti Tutakahinahina, which lived in the villages of Whāngārā, Pakarae, and Rehuroa.{{sfn|Mitchell|2014|p=31}}
===Journey to New Zealand=== {{OSM Location map | coord = {{coord|-37|175.55}} | zoom = 6 | width = 280 | height = 350 | mark-coord1 = {{coord|35|2|52|S|173|15|22|E}} | mark-title1 = [[Awanui]] | shape1=n-circle | shape-color1=dark blue | shape-outline1=white | mark-size1=16 | mark-coord2 = {{coord|-34.415463|173.051111}} | mark-title2 = [[North Cape (New Zealand)|North Cape]] | mark-coord3 = {{Coord|37|41|S|176|10|E}} | mark-title3 = Te Manga-Tawa, [[Tauranga]] | caption = Tamatea's journey, according to J. H. Mitchell. | auto-caption=1 }} When the explorer [[Hoaki]] returned to Hawaiki with the news that New Zealand was sparsely populated,{{sfn|Mitchell|2014|pp=27-29}} Tamatea was inspired to build a canoe, the ''Tākitimu'', and lead a migration to New Zealand.{{sfn|Mitchell|2014|p=31}} It was first roughly shaped at Titirangi hill and then taken to Tamatea's house at Whāngārā, where the carving was completed in an extremely sacred enclosure which was off limits to women and commoners.{{sfn|Mitchell|2014|p=31}} Tamatea and the [[tohunga]] Ruawharo consecrated the ''Tākitimu'' by singing a ''karakia'' which J. H. Mitchell records and pouring a calabash of water over the bow. Then they launched the canoe into the Pikopiki-i-whiti [[lagoon]].{{sfn|Mitchell|2014|p=32}} After this, it was taken in the night to Te-whetu-Matarau and the tohunga Ruawharo cast various protective spells for the boat, one of which J. H. Mitchell records.{{sfn|Mitchell|2014|pp=32-33}}
The ''Tākitimu'' was too sacred for women, commoners, children, or cooked food to be allowed onto it.{{sfn|Mitchell|2014|p=30}} Tamatea Arikinui took up the role of captain, sitting at the stern and holding the ceremonial paddles Rapanga-i-te-atinuku and Rapanga-i-te-ati-rangi.{{sfn|Mitchell|2014|p=30}} The ship travelled to [[Rarotonga]] and from there made the journey from Rarotonga to New Zealand in only eleven days. A shortage of food forced the crew to pray to [[Tangaroa]] and [[Tāne]], who provided them with raw fish and birds to eat.{{sfn|Mitchell|2014|p=40}}
The ''Tākitimu'' arrived at [[Awanui]] at the base of the [[Aupōuri Peninsula]] in [[Northland Peninsula|Northland]]. Some members of the crew settled in this location, but Tamatea led most of the crew continued around [[North Cape (New Zealand)|North Cape]], and along the east coast of the [[North Island]] until they reached [[Tauranga]]. Here Tamatea left the ''Tākitimu'', entrusting the command to Tahu, whom he instructed to find a source of ''[[pounamu]]'' or greenstone (nephrite jade).{{sfn|Mitchell|2014|pp=41-42}}
[[File:Gardenology.org-IMG_2590_ucla09.jpg|thumb|A [[Astelia banksii|wharawhara]] plant.]] Tamatea settled at Kawhai-nui, now Tauranga. Here he planted a sacred flax plant called Wharawhara-nui, built a ''[[pa (fortification)|pa]]'' called Te Manga-Tawa, and married a local lady. The local people gave him the name Tamatea mai-tawhiti ("Tamatea from a distance") and honoured him. J. H. Mitchell thinks that he found himself "aimless" and without opportunities for further deeds. He died shortly after the birth of his son.{{sfn|Mitchell|2014|pp=41-42}}
==Family== Tamatea married Toto, a descendant of [[Toi-te-huatahi]].<ref>J. H. Mitchell gives the line of descent as Toi - Rauru - Whatonga - Tahatiti - Rakeiora - Tamaki-te-hau - Tamaki-te-ra - Tamaki-te-matangi - Tama-kireireia-mai-Hawaiki - Te-Kahu-arero - Pito - Rere - Tangi - Maika - Toto; Steedman gives the much shorter line: Toi - Rauru - Whatonga - Tahatiti - Tato - Rere - Maika - Toto.</ref> They had a son, [[Rongokako]], father of [[Tamatea Urehaea]], father of [[Kahungunu]], the eponymous ancestor of Ngāti Kahungunu,{{sfn|Mitchell|2014|pp=41-42}} and a daughter, Rongorongo, who married [[Turi (Māori ancestor)|Turi]], captain of the ''[[Aotea (canoe)|Aotea]]''.{{sfn|Steedman|1984|p=18-19}}
==References== {{reflist|30em}} ==Bibliography== *{{cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=J. H. |title=Takitimu: A History of Ngati Kahungunu |date=2014 |publisher=Libro International |isbn=978-1-877514-72-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5vm_oAEACAAJ |language=en}} * {{cite encyclopedia |title=Canoe traditions|encyclopedia=Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand|year=2005|last=Taonui|first=Rāwiri |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/canoe-traditions/page-6 |access-date= }} *{{cite book |last1=Steedman |first1=J.A.W. |title=Ngā Ohaaki o ngā Whānau o Tauranga Moana: Māori History and Genealogy of the Bay of Plenty |date=1984 |url=https://paekoroki.tauranga.govt.nz/nodes/view/50191}} [[Category:14th-century New Zealand people]] [[Category:Māori mythology]] [[Category:Legendary Polynesian people]] [[Category:Legendary progenitors]] [[Category:Polynesian maritime navigators]] [[Category:Ngāti Kahungunu]]