(or ) was a supernatural person in Māori mythology. One day Apakura threw her apron into the sea, and a sea named Rongotakawhiu took it and worked it into human form, and Whakatau was born. The taught him the arts of enchantment. As the child grew older, people saw kites flying at sea, but could not see who held the strings. Whakatau loved to fly kites, and would run along the floor of the ocean with his toy. One day, he came ashore and the people tried to catch him. Whakatau was too fast a runner and would let no one catch him except his mother Apakura. He then lived on land with her, and grew up into a famous hero. In another account, Tūwhakararo was murdered by the men of the Ati Hapai tribe, and Whakatau set out on a quest to rescue the bones of his father, and to avenge his death. He assembled an army, and prepared his war canoes , , , , , and others. The expedition set off, and Whakatau, with his best men, besieged a called where the enemy were gathered. The house was burned and the people of Ati Hapai were wiped out. In some accounts, Whakatau was a son of Tūhuruhuru (son of

Hinauri In Māori mythology, Hinauri is the sister of Māui and the wife of Irawaru In Māori mythology, Irawaru is the origin of the dog. He is the husband of Hinauri, the sister of Māui. Māui becomes annoyed with Irawaru and stretches out his lim ...

), and a nephew of Tūwhakararo.

References

{{reflist Legendary Māori people