Reitū and Reipae


Reitū and Reipae were twin sisters from the Tainui confederation of Māori tribes in Waikato, New Zealand, who lived before European settlement. Tainui tradition remembers them for the story of Reitū's courtship by Ue-oneone and for the important genealogical connection between Tainui and Ngā Puhi that was created by their marriages.

Life

The basic story is that Ue-oneone, a rangatira of Ngā Puhi descent, who was based at Pawarenga on the Whangape Harbour in Northland became enamoured by the beauty of Reitū – either after visiting her in Waikato or simply after hearing her described in rumours. Therefore, Ue-oneone performed a karakia which caused his pet kāiaia to fly all the way to Waikato and land on the paepae of Reitū's house, which was called Tauranga-miromiro. As Reitū and Reipae approached the bird it flew back slightly out of reach and they followed it, step by step all the way to Northland.
At Kaipara, Reipae met and married a man called Korowharo or Tāhuhu-pōtiki. A Muriwhenua account claims that Whangārei, which means 'Harbour of Rei' is named for her.
At Ngutu-pakapaka, Reitū and Ue-oneone met and married. The genealogical link created between Tainui and Ngā Puhi by these marriages is very important in Tainui whakapapa.

Family

According to the account that Jones got from Te Puea, Reitū and Reipae were the daughters of Wairere, who was the son of Tamainu-pō. Clark agrees and gives their mother's name as Māwera. Āperāhama Taonui instead makes them the daughters of Wairere's grandfather, Kōkako. According to Wahanui and Jones' other account they were daughters of Tūihu and descendants of Whatihua and Apakura. Jones' second account makes them the sisters of Te Ao-tū-tahanga, who is usually a son of Māhanga and places one "Maru-Māhanga" among their ancestors. Kārena Tāmaki has Te Ao-tū-tahanga as their father.
According to Jones, Reitū had two daughters by Ue-oneone, Kauae and Tawake-iti, who married Tūpoto and had a son, Korokoro, ancestor of Ngāti Korokoro. According to Āperāhama Taonui, Reitū's son was Taka-tōmua. According to the Muriwhenua account, all tribes north of Auckland are descended from Tūpoto.
Reipae had three children with her husband: Kaiawhi, Hou-taringa, and Rangi-oma. Kaiawhi married Kaharau, one of the main ancestors of Ngā Puhi.