Tūtānekai

Tūtānekai was a significant figure in Māori oral tradition, primarily associated with the Te Arawa iwi (tribe) of the Rotorua region in New Zealand. He is renowned for his chiefly lineage, his musical talent, and his legendary love affair with Hinemoa.

Tūtānekai was the son of Whakaue-kaipāpā, a high-ranking chief. He was famed for his skill as a flute player, and his haunting melodies are said to have travelled across Lake Rotorua. These melodies reached Hinemoa, a high-born woman residing on Mokoia Island in the middle of the lake, and ignited a powerful attraction between them.

Hinemoa's family, concerned about the social disparity between them and the possibility of other suitors, attempted to prevent their union. They forbade her from using the canoes to cross the lake. However, Hinemoa was resourceful and determined. Guided by the sound of Tūtānekai's flute, she swam across the lake to Mokoia Island. She used empty gourds to stay afloat and rested at a hot spring pool called Waikimihia (or Hinemoa's Pool) to regain her strength.

Upon reaching the island, she hid in the pool and waited for someone to fetch water. When Tūtānekai's servant came to draw water, Hinemoa asked him for a drink, breaking his calabash in the process. Tūtānekai, hearing the commotion, investigated and discovered Hinemoa.

Their meeting and subsequent revelation of Hinemoa’s journey led to their eventual marriage, solidifying a significant alliance between their families and establishing Tūtānekai as a figure of enduring romantic legend within Te Arawa traditions. The story of Tūtānekai and Hinemoa is a celebrated tale of love, courage, and resourcefulness, and continues to be a part of Māori cultural heritage.