Ue-nuku

A chief or high priest of Hawaiki. He was vexed with the dog Pōtaka-tāwhiti (an animal belonging to chief Haumai-tāwhiti) for committing an act of desecration, and killed the dog, which was eaten by his friend Toi-te-huatahi. The two sons of Haumai-tāwhiti, Tama-te-kapua and Whakaturia went in search of the lost dog and heard it bark in the belly of Toi. In revenge, they stole fruit from Ue-nuku's poporo trees. Whakaturia was captured and nearly killed, only escaping by stratagem. War ensued between the two villages in which Haumai-tāwhiti and Whakaturia were killed. The remaining son killed Ue-nuku, cut off his head, and emigrated with the remnant of his tribe to New Zealand.

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References

Sources

  • Grey, Sir George. (1855). Polynesian Mythology. Auckland: Brett, p. 76 ff.
  • Tregear, Edward. (1891). Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary. Wellington: Government Printer, pp. 459, 572.

This article incorporates text from Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary (1891) by Edward Tregear, which is in the public domain.