Haumai-tāwhiti

An ancestral hero of the Māori, who resided at Hawaiki. His wife was named Tuikakapa. Haumai-tāwhiti's dog, Pōtaka-tāwhiti, offended the high priest, Ue-nuku, and the dog was killed by Ue-nuku and Toi-te-huatahi. This act was revenged by Tama-te-kapua and Whakaturia, Haumia's two sons; hence arose war in Hawaiki, which was the cause of the great migration of the Māori to New Zealand.

Haumai-tāwhiti appears to have attained divine honors, and was propitiated by the ceremony of "sending off a canoe with food for the gods at Hawaiki and for Haumai-tāwhiti, food both cooked and uncooked. This canoe was made of raupo (bulrush; typha). There was no one in the canoe, only stones to represent men."

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