Aotea was a double canoe built by Toto from half of a great tree from
Hawaiki, the other half being used for the canoe
Matahourua. Toto gave
Aotea to his daughter
Rongorongo, who was married to
Turi. In strife with the chief
Uenuku, Turi killed the chief's son and thereafter had to flee for New Zealand with 33 passengers. During the voyage, they stopped at Rangitahua. This has been identified by some as Raoul Island in the
Kermadec Islands, but Tregear says 'this island cannot now be identified'. At Rangitahua they encountered some of the crew from the
Kurahaupō canoe. The
Aotea canoe made landfall in New Zealand to the north of
Kāwhia on the west coast of the
North Island, and its people eventually trekked overland to the Taranaki region, where they settled. The canoe was left behind, and became the namesake for
Aotea Harbour. ==Aircraft==