Key Info

- During the war between Rangi and Papa's children both fled for survival

- Ikatere took his children (fish) to the sea

- Tū-te-wehiwehi took his children (reptiles) to the land

Brief Bio

In Māori and Polynesian mythology, Ikatere, also spelled Ika-tere, ('fast fish') is a fish god, the father of all sea creatures, including mermaids. He is a son of Punga, and a grandson of Tangaroa, and his brother is Tū-te-wehiwehi.

Tū-te-wehiwehi is a son of Punga and brother of Ikatere. Punga's father was Tangaroa, atua of the sea. One of Tu-te-wanwana's offspring was Uenuku, a lesser reptile atua. His mother was Mairangi, who was the daughter of Kauika, son of Wareware, son of Murirangawhenua and Mahuika. This Uenuku should not be confused with Uenuku, a more prominent atua.

When Tāwhirimātea made war against his brothers for separating Rangi and Papa, Ikatere and Tū-te-wehiwehi had to flee, and Ikatere fled to the sea and became an ancestor of fishes, while Tū-te-wehiwehi took refuge in the forest and fathered lizards. Before Tū-te-wehiwehi and Ikatere fled, they disputed together as to what they should do to escape from the storms.

A saying that refers to the choices they made for their descendants goes as such:

Māori                                          Translation

Tāua ki uta, tāua ki te wai.          We of the land, we of the sea.