He was the son of Tauramoko and Te Hauangiangi, and was born at Whiria pā, near Opononi in the Hokianga.
[2] Uenuku was also known as Uenuku-kuare (Uenuku who was not blessed upon birth due to the ignorance of those accompanying his mother): while still a young boy, together with his mother Ahuaiti, he was cast out by Rāhiri and it was only when he was a young man that he was reconciled with his father Rāhiri.
Ahuaiti had allegedly given her visiting brothers some of Rāhiri's best fern root, contrary to his instructions to her.
Rāhiri's second wife was Whakaruru and from this union came Kaharau who, together with Uenuku founded the military might of Ngāpuhi.
Upon reconciliation, the then territories of Ngāpuhi were divided up by Rāhiri on the basis of the flight and landing place of the kite, Tuhoronuku.