Tūrongo

Tūrongo was a Māori rangatira (chief) in the Tainui confederation of tribes, based at Rangiātea, near Waikeria, New Zealand.

He quarrelled with his brother, Whatihua, and as a result Tainui was split between them, with Tūrongo receiving the southern Waikato region.

His marriage to Māhina-a-rangi created a genealogical link between Tainui and Ngāti Kahungunu of the East Coast, which is still commemorated.

[4] When the two brothers reached adulthood, Tūrongo travelled south to Patea and got engaged to Rua-pū-tahanga, a descendant of Turi, leader of the Aotea canoe.

For a number of nights, Māhina-a-rangi covered herself in raukawa perfume and met Tūrongo as he was heading to sleep, without revealing who she was.

[11] There he divided his lands between Whatihua and Tūrongo, roughly along the aukati line that later formed the northern boundary of the King Country.

[12] The north went to Whatihua, who remained at Kāwhia, while the south went to Tūrongo, who was sent inland and settled at Rangiātea, near Waikeria and Ōtorohanga.

The names were suggested by Sir Āpirana Ngata, to commemorate the links between Tainui and Ngāti Porou, which had supplied funding and carvers for the construction of the buildings.