In Cook Islands mythology, Tu-metua was the sixth child and most beloved daughter of the mother goddess, Vari.
Tu-metua lived in Te-enua-te-ki "The-mute-land" (enua, "land" + te, used as a negative, + ki, "to speak").
This was a place said to have no spoken language, but communication only by signs—such as nods, raised eyebrows, grimaces, and smiles.
Mamae's native text (Gill's informant), however, shows that the two lands were close together.
It also explains the meaning of Tu-metua's name, which differs from Gill's translation as "Stick-to-the-parent".