Toi, a great explorer, searches for his grandsons who were lost during a canoe race.
He establishes a home in Whakatāne.
The Mātaatua waka leaves from Hawaiki with kumara tubers, bound for Aotearoa.
Two manu — Mumuhau and Takere-Tōu guide the waka across the oceans.
The waka is led by Toroa and crewed by, amongst others, his siblings, Puhi and Muriwai. They arrive to find a beautiful landscape rich in natural beauty.
The land is a good place for settlement, and they plant the kumara at a garden named Matirerau
Our iwi claim descent from the crew of the Mātaatua waka and Awanuiārangi, (Toi's son).
Among them are Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Whakatōhea, Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Manawa, Ngāti Whare, Ngāi te Rangi and Ngā Puhi.
