Mata-atua
A kōrero from the Te Tua Whakatere era
The waka carved by Irakewa and company launched from the beaches of Ma’uke.
Some of those onboard the waka were Tāneatua, Toroa and his wives, Muriwai, and Wairaka.
Tama-ki-hikurangi was also onboard with the kūmara seedlings for his people back in Kākahoroa.
(See the story of Hoaki and Taukata)
It took a collective effort to traverse the oceans and everyone had their responsibilities.
Toroa - Rangatira
Puhi - Rangatira
Tāneatua - Tohunga Ihorae
Tama-ki-hikurangi - Tohunga Tātai Arorangi
Muriwai - Ruahine
On launching, the waka was named Te Tua Matua o Irakewa.
They made their was to Te Motu-tapu-ā-Tinirau to the east of Rarotonga. Here they met with relations from other waka such as Te Arawa, captained by the twin brothers Tia and Hei.
The fleet left for Aotearoa.
Unbeknown to those on Te Tua Matua, troubles were brewing on the Te Arawa canoe. As a result, Toroa’s nephew Ngātoro-i-rangi who was on board the Te Arawa, called the gods and a great storm came upon them.
The ocean taniwha, Te Parata, was woken and began to suck in the waters above him, causing a whirlpool. This is referred to as Te Korokoro o Te Parata.
Many waka were caught up in the massive storm, including Te Tua Matua.
Toroa, a great tohunga, recited his karakia which saved the waka from true devastation. The wind picked up the sails and drew them from the throat of Te Parata. Not all were so lucky.
Some accounts say that Te Tua Matua sustained damage and had to return to land for repairs. Some say they returned to Te Motu-tapu-ā-Tinirau, others say they stopped at Rangitāhuahua of the Kermedec islands.
On relaunch, the waka was given the name Mata-atua in memory of this great tragedy.
One version of the origins of this name is that when they waka was saved from the storm, Toroa saw the face of god, it is not stated which god.
Another version is that during the storm, the bow of the waka was being sucked into the whirlpool and those on board saw the ‘eye’ of the god in the centre of the vortex.
Mata-atua then made its way to Aotearoa, landing at Repanga, to the north of the Coromandel.