Taken from my book Te Herenga Waka... which focuses on the canoe traditions around Aotearoa... from the far north to the bottom of the South Island
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| Hoturoa captained the Tainui waka |
The famous chief Hoturoa captained the Tainui canoe. He and his fellow
tribesmen decided to build a voyaging waka to escape the endless wars and food
shortages. Hoturoa’s wife Whakaotirangi approached her father Memeha-o-te-rangi
for help. She asked her father for a skilled canoe builder and was duly offered
the services of Rakataura.
The great tohunga and master canoe builder had three
sacred adzes with which to build the waka. He would use Hahau-o-te-rangi to
fell the tree, Paopao-o-te-rangi to split the timber and Manu-tawhiao-rangi to
shape the hull. Rakataura selected his tree and began his sacred task.
Eventually, with the help of seven workmen, the canoe was completed and the
vessel taken out for sea trials. After much ceremony and preparation Hoturoa
was ready to lead his family to Aotearoa.
As they left Hawaiiki the waves
around Pikopiko-i-whiti were especially rough and the Tainui struggled in the
huge seas. The great tohunga Ngatoroirangi was able to pacify the waters of
Tangaroa allowing the Tainui to embark on its journey. Later Ngatoroirangi was
tricked into joining the Te Arawa crew.
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