Te Tauri

As a result of an old vendetta, they attacked Pūkawa, Motutaiko Island, and Motutere, desecrating the graves of rangatira, including Te Rangi-tua-mātotoru.

When the chiefs of Tūwharetoa gathered at Motutere to discuss how to respond to this attack, Te Tauri emerged as the most prominent advocate for inaction, arguing that, since the war party had violated tapu, they were doomed to die whatever happened.

[7] Ngati Maniapoto gave Te Tauri a special taiaha spear called Matuakore ("parentless"), which was decorated with carvings and kākā feathers.

Because the taiaha had not been taken honourably and was very famous, Te Tangata tried to avoid reprisals first by defacing it, so that it would no longer be identifiable, and, eventually, by burying it.

[8][1][10] During a conflict with Ngāti Kahungunu in the Kaimanawa Range, Te Tauri killed two of their men simultaneously – one with the point (arero) and another with the butt (tinana) of his taiaha.