# The Curse of Manaia explained — Polynesian Mythology

> Chapter companion for Polynesian Mythology by George Grey.

## What happens

Manaia beats and curses his wife Kuiwai for undercooked food, insulting her brother Ngātoroirangi. Kuiwai sends her daughter and other women with gods to seek Ngātoroirangi's aid. Ngātoroirangi returns to Hawaiki, defeats Manaia's forces in multiple battles, and avenges the curse, though Manaia escapes several times.

## Themes in this chapter

### Conflict and Reconciliation

The curse of Manaia triggers a cycle of revenge, battles, and slaughter between Ngātoroirangi and Manaia, with no final reconciliation.

### Resistance and Resilience

Kuiwai and her female companions undertake a perilous journey across the ocean, relying on gods, to seek aid and resist Manaia's oppression.

## Character check-ins

### Manaia

Powerful chief who curses his wife Kuiwai and her brother Ngātoroirangi after undercooked food at a tapu removal ceremony.

### Kuiwai

Wife of Manaia and sister of Ngātoroirangi; beaten and cursed by Manaia, she sends her daughter and companions to seek revenge.

### Ngātoroirangi

Brother of Kuiwai; returns from New Zealand to Hawaiki to avenge Manaia's curse, leading battles and slaughtering Manaia's host.

### Haungaroa

Sister of Kuiwai; accompanies the women on their journey and gives name to Kaingaroa after being teased for eating slowly.

### Rangitu

Warrior who retrieves water under enemy attack, parries a blow with a calabash, and kills the first enemy in battle.

### Tamatekapua

Warrior who kills and carries off an enemy during the battle Tarai-whenua-kura.

## Key lines

> Accursed be your head! Are the logs of firewood as sacred as the bones of your brother, that you were so sparing of them as not to put into the fire in which the stones were heated enough to make them red hot?

Manaia curses Kuiwai, accusing her of treating firewood as sacred as her brother's bones, leading to undercooked food.

_This curse sets the revenge plot in motion._

> Now depart, and when you reach your uncle Ngātoro, and your other relations, tell them that they have been cursed by Manaia...

Kuiwai instructs her daughter to travel to Ngātoroirangi and report Manaia's curse.

_Kuiwai sends messengers to seek vengeance._

> Thus was avenged the curse of Mutahanga and of Manaia.

Ngātoroirangi's destruction of Manaia's host avenged the curses.

_The chapter concludes with the fulfillment of revenge._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/polynesian_mythology_se/chapters/the-curse-of-manaia
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/polynesian_mythology_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/polynesian_mythology_se/chapters