Tūmatauenga (Tū of the angry face) is the primary god (atua) of war and human activities such as hunting, food cultivation, fishing, and cooking in Māori mythology.

[3] After his victories over his brothers, Tū assumed many names; one name for each of the characteristics he displayed in his victories over his brothers,[4][5]: 9  including: A traditional creation story tells that all the children of Rangi and Papa, the sky father and earth mother, lay in a tight embrace together, their children forced to crawl in the darkness between the two.

When rituals were performed over warriors before a battle, or when an infant was dedicated to a future role as a fighter, Tūmatauenga was invoked as the source of their duty.

[7] A song by Alien Weaponry, Kai Tangata (eat people), from the album Tū constantly refers to Tūmatauenga,[8] as the god of war; cannibalism was a part of warfare for the Māori.

Kai tangata also referred to the people eaters - taua or groups of men tasked with fighting and gathering food.