Ha-puku

"Breath of the stomach." Ha-puki, cod-fish, a sea deity. Tāwhaki killed some of his offspring with hailstones obtained from Mai-waho. Some of the offspring of Ha-puku fled to the sea, and some to the forest. Those which fled to the sea became whales and other great fish. They were Kewa, Ihu-paku, Paikea, Paraoa, To-riki, Popoia-kore, Kekeno, Tore-hu, Whaka-hao, Ra-poke, Te-kaki, Ta-wai-ti-roki, and Upoko-hua. These were the fish of the sea; and the Mama-ku, Te-poka, Ka-to-te — these were called the fish of the forest. All these fish and trees were cursed in revenge for the death of the father of Tāwhaki.

References

Source

  • White, John. (1887). Ancient History of the Maori. 6 vols. Wellington: G. Didsbury, Government Printer, p. 59.