The narrative begins with the birth of Tūhuruhuru, whose father, Tinirau, seeks a magician to ensure his son's future as a warrior. Kae, an old magician, is summoned and performs the necessary rituals. Afterward, Tinirau offers Kae a feast using flesh from his pet whale, Tutunui. Kae, enticed by the whale's meat, deceives Tinirau into allowing him to ride Tutunui back to his village instead of taking a canoe. Ignoring Tinirau's warning to disembark when the whale touches the shore, Kae clings to the whale, causing it to die. Kae and his tribe celebrate by cooking and feasting on Tutunui, which leads to Tinirau discovering the loss of his beloved whale through the scent of the cooked flesh. Enraged, Tinirau sends a group of women to Kae's village disguised as visitors to find and capture him. They cleverly identify Kae by making the crowd laugh, revealing his uneven teeth, which still have remnants of Tutunui's flesh. Under the cover of night, the women enchant Kae and carry him back to Tinirau's village. When Kae awakens, he is disoriented and believes he is still in his own home. Tinirau confronts him, and upon realizing he has been tricked, Kae is captured and killed. The news of Kae's death incites his tribe, the descendants of Poporokewa, to seek revenge, leading to a conflict where they ultimately slay Tinirau's son, perpetuating the cycle of vengeance.
By George Grey · Genre: Mythology, Folklore, Adventure