Ohomairangi
Encyclopedia
In Māori mythology
, Ohomairangi is an important ancestor who lived in Hawaiki 6 generations before the migration to Aotearoa
New Zealand. He is considered the major ancestor of the people of both Te Arawa
and Tainui waka .
Ohomairangi was said to be the son of the celestial being Pūhaorangi
and the mortal woman Kuraimonoa.
During his lifetime Ohomairangi acted as the guardian of Taputapuatea marae
in Rangiatea (Raiatea) which is considered the most sacred site in Polynesia.
Ohomairangi was the father of Muturangi
the high priest and navigator who contended with Kupe
.
By the time of his great-grandson Atuamatua, the descendents of Ohomairangi were known as Ngāti Ohomairangi or Nga Ohomairangi and had influence at Aitutaki, Raiatea and surrounding islands.
Eventually two divisions of this tribe were responsible for the construction of the Te Arawa Waka and Tainui Waka respectively which participated in the migration to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Maori mythology
Māori mythology and Māori traditions are the two major categories into which the legends of the Māori of New Zealand may usefully be divided...
, Ohomairangi is an important ancestor who lived in Hawaiki 6 generations before the migration to Aotearoa
Aotearoa
Aotearoa is the most widely known and accepted Māori name for New Zealand. It is used by both Māori and non-Māori, and is becoming increasingly widespread in the bilingual names of national organisations, such as the National Library of New Zealand / Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa.-Translation:The...
New Zealand. He is considered the major ancestor of the people of both Te Arawa
Te Arawa
Te Arawa is a confederation of Māori iwi and hapu based in the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty areas of New Zealand, with a population of around 40,000.The history of the Te Arawa people is inextricably linked to the Arawa canoe...
and Tainui waka .
Ohomairangi was said to be the son of the celestial being Pūhaorangi
Puhaorangi
According to Māori mythology, Pūhaorangi is a celestial being who descended from the heavens to sleep with the beautiful maiden Te Kuraimonoa. From this union came the revered ancestor Ohomairangi....
and the mortal woman Kuraimonoa.
During his lifetime Ohomairangi acted as the guardian of Taputapuatea marae
Taputapuatea marae
Marae Taputapuatea is a large marae complex at Opoa in Taputapuatea, on the south eastern coast of Raiatea. The site features a number of marae and other stone structures and was once considered the central temple and religious center of Eastern Polynesia....
in Rangiatea (Raiatea) which is considered the most sacred site in Polynesia.
Ohomairangi was the father of Muturangi
Muturangi
Muturangi, also known as Ruamuturangi, was the son of Ohomairangi and a renowned High Priest presiding over Taputapuatea marae at Rangiatea.Muturangi was an accomplished navigator and it was he who started the tradition of The High Priest at Taputapuatea...
the high priest and navigator who contended with Kupe
Kupe
In the Māori mythology of some tribes, Kupe was involved in the Polynesian discovery of New Zealand.-Contention:There is contention concerning the status of Kupe. The contention turns on the authenticity of later versions of the legends, the so-called 'orthodox' versions closely associated with S....
.
By the time of his great-grandson Atuamatua, the descendents of Ohomairangi were known as Ngāti Ohomairangi or Nga Ohomairangi and had influence at Aitutaki, Raiatea and surrounding islands.
Eventually two divisions of this tribe were responsible for the construction of the Te Arawa Waka and Tainui Waka respectively which participated in the migration to Aotearoa New Zealand.