Voyage of Manaia and Nuku to New Zealand.

About twenty-eight generations ago two chieftains of eastern Polynesia quarrelled and fought in their island home. One of these, Manaia by name, having suffered grievously, resolved to migrate to New Zealand, here to dwell in peace. He therefore manned his vessel, called “Tokomaru,” with such trained adept seafarers as were necessary in lifting the rolling sea roads of the Realm of Kiwa, and quietly left home between two days. His enemy, one Nuku, came to hear of his departure, and resolved to pursue and attack him. He therefore collected a number of warriors and started in pursuit. Tradition asserts that he was careful to select “sea-paddling braves,” experts on the ara moana, and he also brought three tohunga, or priestly adepts, to assist him in overcoming the dangers of the deep. These folk came in three vessels, named “Te Houama,” “Waimate,” and “Tangi-apakura” Now, it is distinctly stated in the legend that the first-named was a single canoe (waka marohi), and the other two waka unua, or double canoes “Enei waka, e rua nqa waka unua, kotahi te waka marohi, ko Te Houama” (These canoes, two were double canoes, one was a single canoe, Te Houama).

Both these expeditions touched at Rarotonga, as was usual in making the voyage from the Society Isles to New Zealand. Nuku saw no sign of Manaia's vessel in the run down to Aotearoa, but when he entered Cook Strait and landed on D'Urville Island he found there the smouldering remains of the camp-fires of Manaia's party. He at once started in pursuit, and caught sight of his enemy off Pukerua, near Porirua Harbour “Te Houama,” the single canoe, being the swiftest craft, was the first to come up with “Tokomaru” Of the sea fight that occurred on the waters of Raukawa, and the later Homeric combat on the sands of Pae-kakariki, there is no space here to discuss details, but one statement in the tradition is of much interest. It is said that Nuku, when about to leave on his return to Polynesia, dismantled his two double canoes, and sailed them back across the Southern Ocean as single vessels, doubtless provided with