Tamatea Arikinui

[3] It was first roughly shaped at Titirangi hill and then taken to Tamatea's house at Whāngārā, where the carving was completed in an extremely sacred enclosure which was off limits to women and commoners.

[3] Tamatea and the tohunga Ruawharo consecrated the Tākitimu by singing a karakia which J. H. Mitchell records and pouring a calabash of water over the bow.

[7] Tamatea Arikinui took up the role of captain, sitting at the stern and holding the ceremonial paddles Rapanga-i-te-atinuku and Rapanga-i-te-ati-rangi.

A shortage of food forced the crew to pray to Tangaroa and Tāne, who provided them with raw fish and birds to eat.

Here Tamatea left the Tākitimu, entrusting the command to Tahu, whom he instructed to find a source of pounamu or greenstone (nephrite jade).