He was father of Ngāti Toa chief Te Matoe and the grandfather of Te Kanae and Rawiri Puaha "men of note at the time Wellington was founded." Te Matoe was killed at the battle at Pararewa and his father wrote a lament for him.
Biographical sources
- "History and Traditions of the Taranaki Coast." Journal of the Polynesian Society 18 (1909): 82-83.
Traditional
- "Ko Au, Ko Tama Putea-Wananga/The Son Am I Of Those Whose Ancient Knowledge [First Line]." Journal of the Polynesian Society 18 (1909): 82-83. Rpt. as "He Tangi Mo Te Matoe/A Lament For Te Matoe." Nga Moteatea: He Maramara Rere No Nga Waka Maha. The Songs: Scattered Pieces From Many Canoe Areas. Comp. A. T. Ngata. Trans. Pei Te Hurinui. Pt. 3. Wellington, N.Z.: Polynesian Soc., 1970. 418-419.
- Takamai Te Rangi writes this lament for the killing of his son Te Matoe at the battle at Pararewa when he was fighting with Te Rauparaha and Ngāti Toa against Ngāti Maniapoto.