When the people of Mokoia Island attended a meeting at Ōwhata, Hinemoa fell in love with Tūtānekai, but the two kept their love a secret as they feared their families would not accept the match. On returning to Mokoia Island, Tūtānekai built himself a platform on a knoll behind his father’s house. Every evening he and his friend Tiki played their flutes; Tūtānekai’s flute was known as Murirangaranga. Across the water Hinemoa would sit on the rock Iri Iri Kapua, listening and yearning for her melodious lover. Her people were suspicious and dragged their canoes up on shore so that she could not paddle across to the island.
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Private collection, Paul Tapsell
Photograph by Paul Tapsell
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