The Mātaatua was captained by Toroa, accompanied by his brother, Puhi; his sister, Muriwai; his son, Ruaihona; and daughter, Wairaka.
[1] In local Māori tradition, the Mātaatua waka was the first to land at Whakatāne, approximately 700 years ago.
According to various accounts, at some point, a dispute arose between the commander, Toroa, and Puhi, over kūmara planting rituals.
[1] As a result, Puhi left on the Mātaatua with most of its crew to travel further north, while Toroa, Tāneatua, Muriwai, and their immediate families remained in the Bay of Plenty.
[1] These members of the crew and their immediate families integrated with local people who lived in the area, such as Muriwai's daughter Hinekauia who married Tutamure of the Wakanui iwi from Omarumutu.