Tokomaru

One of the celebrated canoes in which the ancestors of the Māori people came from Hawaiki to New Zealand. This canoe originally belonged to the brother of Rongo-tiki, who was wife to Manaia. Manaia being in trouble, and having slain Tū-penu (who had insulted Manaia's wife), fled across the sea in the Tokomaru, first killing his brother-in-law as a sacrifice of propitiation. The canoe made land at Whangaparaoa, sailed round the North Cape, and coasted down the western shore of the North Island. The voyagers finally remained at Taranaki, and became ancestors of Ngāti-awa, Ngāti-area, Ngāti-raanni, and Ngāti-tama. One legend says that the chief's name was Rāke-ora.

❧