Polynesian Mythology · Chapter
The History of Pāoa, the Ancestor of the Ngāti Pāoa Tribe explained
Pāoa, ancestor of the Ngāti Pāoa tribe, journeys from the south in search of his estranged wife, traveling through many regions including Taupō, Tongariro, Taranaki, and Waikato.
What happens
Pāoa, ancestor of the Ngāti Pāoa tribe, journeys from the south in search of his estranged wife, traveling through many regions including Taupō, Tongariro, Taranaki, and Waikato. Unable to find her, he settles at Kaitotehe, marries a local maiden, and fathers two sons. Later, he travels with his people up the Waihou River, visiting several villages where he is recognized and received with hospitality. Despite his shabby appearance, his noble bearing distinguishes him. His visit to Taharua's village leads to the famous proverb about greed associated with Ngāti Pāoa.
Themes in this chapter
Migration and Discovery
Pāoa's extensive journey from the east coast through Taupō, Tongariro, Taranaki, and Waikato reflects the movement and settlement of ancestors across Aotearoa.
Social Structure and Equality
Pāoa's humble attire contrasts with his noble status, highlighting the social dynamics and the importance of personal bearing over outward appearance.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“That is Pāoa; how dirtily he eats! ... It is Pāoa, the greedy; thence that proverb has ever since been applied to the Ngāti Pāoa tribe; so that men say, 'as greedy as a Ngāti Pāoa!'”
Pāoa's messy eating led to the enduring saying 'as greedy as a Ngāti Pāoa,' linking his behavior to the tribe's reputation.
This passage explains the origin of a tribal proverb.
“When there is a call to a feast, open your ears (Let the drum of your ears be then not thick); and the Ngāti Pāoa have ever since kept that saying amongst them as a proverb.”
Pāoa advised his people to be attentive when invited to a feast, a saying that became a lasting proverb among Ngāti Pāoa.
This illustrates how Pāoa's words became a tribal maxim.