[1] His mother, Tonoa-Ki-Aua, was the daughter of Hine-te-Ariki, a descendant of Uri-Taniwha, supernatural creatures that lived in deep still areas of rivers.
[2] After the marriage, Tonoa-Ki-Aua became pregnant and the local people gathered for the birth, but were deeply disappointed when the child turned out to be a girl.
Tono-Ki-Aua consulted the Uri-Taniwha on how to give birth to a male child and was instructed to totally avoid crossing, washing in, or drinking from rivers for the duration of her pregnancy.
At dawn, he went out before the pā alone and performed a magical war dance called the Tutu Taua, but part way through he stopped suddenly and fell to the ground.
[4] His troops ran over to him and found that Te Huiwhenua had let down ropes from the top of the walls and returned Tama-i-uia's children to him.