Turi (Maori ancestor)
Encyclopedia
Turi, according to Māori tradition
, was the captain of the Aotea canoe
and an important ancestor for many Māori iwi, particularly in the Taranaki region.
, Turi departed for New Zealand with many others in the Aotea Canoe. This canoe had been given to Turi by Toto
, father of Turi’s wife Rongorongo
. In some traditions, Turi and his party stopped at Rangitāhua, believed by some to be Raoul
of the Kermadec Islands
, where they encountered some of the crew from the Kurahaupō
canoe. Continuing on, Turi and his followers eventually arrived and settled at Aotea Harbour
on the west coast of the North Island
.
After some time at Aotea Harbour, Turi settled the Pātea
region where he lived with his people along Pātea river
. His daughter Tāneroroa married Ruanui, the eponymous ancestor of Ngāti Ruanui
.
Maori mythology
Māori mythology and Māori traditions are the two major categories into which the legends of the Māori of New Zealand may usefully be divided...
, was the captain of the Aotea canoe
Aotea (canoe)
In Māori tradition, Aotea is one of the canoes by which Māori migrated to New Zealand; it is particularly associated with the tribes of Taranaki and Whanganui, including Ngāti Ruanui and other tribal groups. Aotea was a double canoe built by Toto from half of a great tree from Hawaiki, the other...
and an important ancestor for many Māori iwi, particularly in the Taranaki region.
Arrival in New Zealand
After a conflict in which he killed the son of the chief UenukuUenuku
In Māori mythology, Uenuku is the god of rainbows. He is particularly special to the Tainui Māori.-Legend:The legend of Uenuku is similar to many other vanishing lover tales such as Cupid and Psyche or Beauty and the Beast....
, Turi departed for New Zealand with many others in the Aotea Canoe. This canoe had been given to Turi by Toto
Toto (mythology)
In Māori mythology, Toto was a chief in Hawaiki. He had two daughters, Kuramarotini, the wife of Hoturapa, and Rongorongo, the wife of Turi. Toto felled a tree and made two canoes. One of these, the Aotea, was given to Turi, and was sailed by him to New Zealand...
, father of Turi’s wife Rongorongo
Rongorongo (wife of Turi)
In Māori tradition, Rongorongo is the wife of Turi, the chief of the Aotea canoe. She is an ancestress of the Whanganui and Ngati Ruanui iwi. The Aotea canoe was given to Rongorongo as a present by her father Toto .-References:...
. In some traditions, Turi and his party stopped at Rangitāhua, believed by some to be Raoul
Raoul
-In media:* Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny, character in The Phantom of the Opera* Raoul , the second single by indie band The Automatic* Raoul EP, the extended play featuring b-sides from The Automatic's first album Not Accepted Anywhere...
of the Kermadec Islands
Kermadec Islands
The Kermadec Islands are a subtropical island arc in the South Pacific Ocean northeast of New Zealand's North Island, and a similar distance southwest of Tonga...
, where they encountered some of the crew from the Kurahaupō
Kurahaupo
In Taranaki tribal tradition, Kurahaupō is known as 'Te Waka Pakaru ki te moana' or 'The Canoe broken at sea', and was reputed to have arrived in Aotearoa in the same generation as the other great migration vessels of the Māori like Aotea, Mataatua, Takitimu, Tainui, Arawa etc...
canoe. Continuing on, Turi and his followers eventually arrived and settled at Aotea Harbour
Aotea Harbour
Aotea Harbour is one of three large natural inlets in the Tasman Sea coast of the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located between Raglan Harbour to the north and Kawhia Harbour to the south, 30 kilometres southwest of Hamilton....
on the west coast of the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
.
After some time at Aotea Harbour, Turi settled the Pātea
Patea
Patea is the third-largest town in South Taranaki, New Zealand. It is on the western bank of the Patea River, 61 kilometres north-west of Wanganui on State Highway 3. Hawera is 27 km to the north-west, and Waverley 17 km to the east. The Patea River flows through the town from the...
region where he lived with his people along Pātea river
Patea River
The Patea River is in Taranaki in the North Island of New Zealand. It runs for 105 kilometres from the eastern slopes of Mount Taranaki, passing east through Stratford before swinging south and reaching the South Taranaki Bight near the town of Patea....
. His daughter Tāneroroa married Ruanui, the eponymous ancestor of Ngāti Ruanui
Ngati Ruanui
Ngāti Ruanui is a Māori iwi traditionally based in the Taranaki region of New Zealand. In the 2006 census, 7,035 people claimed affiliation to the iwi. However, most members now live outside the traditional areas of the iwi.-Early history:...
.