# Te Ponga — Polynesian Mythology character guide

> Te Ponga in Polynesian Mythology by George Grey.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0026-stratagem-of-puhihuia-s-elopement-with-te-ponga

## Snapshot

A visiting warrior whose graceful dance wins Puhihuia's heart, and whose slave's clever water-fetching ruse lets them meet in secret.

## Who they are

Te Ponga arrives at a village where his agility in the dance so dazzles the crowd that Puhihuia conceives a warm passion for him. Unable to sleep for love, he follows his slave's plan: feign a furious thirst, shout for water, and let the chief send his daughter to the spring — where the two can finally speak alone. His willingness to scheme and risk everything for a stolen conversation sets up the elopement that follows.

## In the story

### [Stratagem of Puhihuia’s Elopement with Te Ponga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/polynesian_mythology_se/chapters/stratagem-of-puhihuia-s-elopement-with-te-ponga)

A chief from Āwhitu who visits Maungawhau after a peace treaty and falls in love with Puhihuia, orchestrating their elopement.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/polynesian_mythology_se/characters/te_ponga
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/polynesian_mythology_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/polynesian_mythology_se/characters