Ngā Puna - Kahu & Maia

I wish Rongomaiwahine would show herself to me. I need some inspiration.

– Maia (Vanessa Rare) tempts fate as she carves her tipuna Rongomaiwahine

You know there’s something strong between us, something's drawing us together. You don’t have to fight it.

– Kahu (Cliff Curtis) talking to Maia (Vanessa Rare)

Seems a bit of a waste to work for so long on a thing of beauty and never get to try her out for yourself... bit like a woman, eh?

– Kahu (Cliff Curtis) provokes tohunga whakairo (master carver) Tama (Gordon Hatfield) as they prepare to launch the waka

Tamatakutai was a very trusting fellow, and he let Kahungunu steer the waka. That was his mistake. Kahungunu capsized the waka and Tamatakutai was drowned.

– Nanny Huia (Esther Davis) retells the final act in the story of Kahungunu and Rongomaiwahine

Rongomaiwahine was the ancestor of the people of the Māhia Peninsula. She was married to the carver Tamatakutai, but another man, Kahungunu, wanted to have Rongomaiwahine for himself. Tamatakutai was drowned in the crashing surf off the peninsula, and eventually Rongomaiwahine married Kahungunu, the ancestor of Ngāti Kahungunu. 

– Ngāti Rongomaiwahine origin story on Te Ara Encyclopedia of NZ, written by Mere Whaanga