Taputapu Atea was born to Iro Nui ma Ota and Te Toko o te Rangi. He was sent to be fostered on Easter Island where he grew up. Iro's cousin Tangiia Nui had, he thought, lost all of his children in his battles with his adoptive brother Tu Tapu and asked to adopt Taputapu Atea. This was agreed to.

He was renamed Ta i te Ariki and Te Ariki Upoko Tini, and appointed chief over nine of the tribes of Huahine island. Later, after Tangiia Nui had killed Tu Tapu, Te Ariki Upoko Tini succeeded him as chief of all his followers on Rarotonga, called the Ngati Tangiia, even though it was discovered that some of Tangiia Nui's birth children had survived the wars.

Although much of the story surrounding this chiefly family is probably legendary, the people themselves are quite likely historical.

References

MacCauley, J.J. Te Ato o Ikurangi; The Shadow of Ikurangi. ([Avarua]: Cook Islands Library and Museum Society, n.d.) (Cook Islands Library and Museum Society Bulletins; no. 2)

Indexes

12th Century
13th Century