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Rau-tao, a MythSource painting
Polynesian

Rau-tao

01Identity

Rau-tao in Polynesian tradition

John White’s Tai-Nui account opens with Kahu-rau-tao and his son Kiwi murdered after visiting relatives at Wai-o-hua. Rau-tao and his younger brother grieve until Ra-muri taunts Rau-tao with a proverb about sleeping with his feet drawn up. He hears the reminder that the deaths remain unavenged, gathers warriors, and attacks Wai-o-hua’s forts.

Later, the proverb takes on another meaning: drawn-up feet suggest hunger. Rau-tao turns the taunt into a feast, whose hidden ovens send steam into the guests’ half of the house. The account closes with his revenge complete and peace between the two groups. In this telling Kahu-rau-tao is Rau-tao’s father; elsewhere in the volume a genealogy names different parents.

SourceThe Ancient History of the Maori, His Mythology and Traditions: Tai-Nui. [Vol. V]: “Battle for murder of Kahu and Kiwi,” printed pp. 69-71

  • A source-named leader who avenges Kahu-rau-tao and Kiwi in a Māori ancestral narrative. (The Ancient History of the Maori, His Mythology and Traditions: Tai-Nui. [Vol. V])
Top questions

The quick answers

02Family

Rau-tao’s family, at a glance

Rau-taoKiwiWhanga

with Nga-whakawanga

03The myths

The myths of Rau-tao

1 myth, with sources recorded for each.

Rau-tao avenges Kahu and Kiwi

Kahu-rau-tao and his elder son Kiwi travel to Wai-kato to collect a carved storehouse and two greenstone ornaments. The people who give them the ornaments plot to kill them. Their men murder Kahu-rau-tao and Kiwi on the road, then hang Kiwi’s body in a tree. Rau-tao and his younger brother Whanga grieve for them. Ra-muri addresses Rau-tao with a proverb that suggests he sleeps with his feet drawn up while Ra-muri sleeps with his feet extended. The saying reminds Rau-tao that his father has not been avenged. He gathers warriors and leads an attack on Wai-o-hua. Rau-tao kills two opponents, pursues the rest, and takes their forts.

After returning home, Rau-tao hears another meaning in the proverb: drawn-up feet also suggest hunger. He plants large crops, builds a house for a feast and divides it into two parts, one for the guests and one for the cooks. When the food is ready, he has the partition removed. Steam from the covered ovens fills the guests’ side and makes Ra-muri and his people hot and uncomfortable. Ra-muri calls the treatment a murderous act. Rau-tao answers that he cultivates food while Ra-muri only speaks a proverb. Rau-tao has avenged both the murders and the taunt. No further war follows between their groups.

Rau-tao avenges Kahu and Kiwi, a MythSource painting of the scene
04Different accounts

Different accounts

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