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Ngahue, a MythSource painting
Polynesian

Ngahue

01Identity

Ngahue in Polynesian tradition

Ngahue carries Poutini, a jade stone, away from Hine-tu-a-hoanga, who drives them from their shared place and pursues them to Tuhua. He seeks a resting place far enough from his enemy to keep the stone at peace. After finding Aotearoa, he continues to Arahura on the west coast of the middle island and leaves Poutini there.

Ngahue breaks off a piece of jade and returns by Wairere, Whangaparoa and Tauranga. In Hawaiki, he reports that the land he saw is rich in moa and jade. His search carries the story from the conflict over the stone to its resting place and back to the community that hears his report.

SourcePolynesian Mythology and Ancient Traditional History of the New Zealand Race: “The Legend of Poutini and Whaiapu - The Discovery of New Zealand,” printed pp. 82-83

  • A named voyager in George Grey’s Māori narrative about the discovery of Aotearoa and the resting place of Poutini. (Polynesian Mythology and Ancient Traditional History of the New Zealand Race)
Top questions

The quick answers

02The myths

The myths of Ngahue

1 myth, with sources recorded for each.

Ngahue finds a resting-place for Poutini

Hine-tu-a-hoanga becomes angry with Ngahue and with Poutini, the jade stone he carries. She drives Ngahue away, and he leaves for a strange land with the stone. When he reaches Tuhua, Hine-tu-a-hoanga arrives too and drives him on again. Ngahue searches for somewhere Poutini can remain in peace. He finds Aotearoa in the sea and considers landing there, but fears that he and his enemy would still be too close.

Ngahue continues along the coast until he reaches Arahura on the west coast of the middle island. There he makes a lasting resting place for Poutini. He breaks a piece from the stone and returns to Hawaiki, travelling by Wairere, Whangaparoa and Tauranga. He also shapes part of the stone into neck and ear ornaments. When he reaches home, he tells the people about the country he has found, where moa and jade are plentiful.

Ngahue finds a resting-place for Poutini, a MythSource painting of the scene