Wahieroa

The firstborn son of Tāwhaki and his wife Hine-piripiri (or Maikuku-makaka,¹ the sister of Hāpai). His name (signifying "the long piece of firewood") was given to him because his mother carried a whole tree as a log for the fire when Tāwhaki was lying wounded and helpless, after the attack made on him by his brothers-in-law.²

Wahieroa took Kura as wife, and by her had a son named Rata, who became a very famous hero. Wahieroa was slain treacherously by Mātuku-takotako, some supernatural being who dwelt beneath the earth. The Ponaturi fairies carried off the bones of Wahieroa, and these were afterwards recovered by Rata, who slew the fairies,³ and also killed Mātuku. By another legend, the wife of Wahieroa is called Matoka-rau-tāwhiri, and it is said that Wahieroa was killed in trying to get some tui birds for his wife (who had a longing of pregnancy for them), and in trying to get the birds invaded Mātuku's preserves.⁴

Also mentioned as a personification of comets.⁵

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