Rangitihi

[2] When he was an adult, Rangitihi departed from Maketu and established settlements of his own at Pakotore on the Kaituna River and at Matapara.

Akatea, also known as white rātā is a flowering vine, which was used to tie palisade walls in place.

Eventually, however, one of his younger sons, Apumoana performed the rites, binding his father with akatea.

Seeing this, Rangitihi ordered him to climb onto the roof of the house at Pakotore and stand directly above the door.

Later, Rangitihi travelled to Ohoukaka and gave Tūhourangi a lady named Rakeitahaenui as a wife.

His bones were eventually interred in a cave on the Ruawahia cone of Mount Tarawera, where they were destroyed during the 1886 eruption.

Akatea in bloom.