Polynesian Mythology · Character
Hotunui
A chief so shamed by a false accusation of sweet-potato theft that he abandons his pregnant wife and vanishes to Hauraki.
supporting
Also known as Paka Hotunui, Paka, O Hotunui
First appearance: The Story of Marutūāhu, the Son of Hotunui, and of Kahureremoa, the Daughter of Paka
As a supporting figure in Polynesian Mythology, Hotunui is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
A chief who arrived on the Tainui canoe, falsely accused of theft, and fled to Hauraki where he fathered Paka.
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Hotunui arrives from beyond the ocean in the Tainui canoe and settles at Kāwhia, but a thief's footprints — erased by his own unusually large feet — get him accused of robbing a friend's storehouse. Too ashamed to stay,…
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The fuller portrait of Hotunui sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Hotunui in The Story of Marutūāhu, the Son of Hotunui, and of Kahureremoa, the Daughter of PakaCharacter Web
9 connectionsA slice of how Hotunui sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Family
- Other
Character groups
- Tribal ancestors and conflict
- Miscellaneous figures and ancestors
- Discoverers and migrants
- Protagonist
+4 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This excerpt marks the story's dramatic climax because it presents the psychological peak of the narrator's in…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Marutūāhu
family · positive
Hotunui is Marutūāhu's father, a chief who passes down his legacy. How this plays out →
- Marutūāhu
family · positive
Hotunui is Marutūāhu's father, a chief who passes down his legacy. How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Hotunui in The Story of Marutūāhu, the Son of Hotunui, and of Kahureremoa, the Daughter of PakaIn the story
Hotunui appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Hotunui unlock in the free preview.
See Hotunui in The Story of Marutūāhu, the Son of Hotunui, and of Kahureremoa, the Daughter of Paka