“Swift Sun”

​Alongside Wairua Toa, Ra Tere earned his mana as one of the greatest Aho during the Taniwha Wars.

​Unlike his older mentor Wairua, Ra Tere was driven to seek peaceful negotiations, rather than wage war against the Taniwha. Though not always successful, it still earned him great respect of the Aho and Māori people – who followed his peaceful practice as often as possible.

​Like his fellow Aho, Ra Tere became a great and feared warrior in his struggle against the Taniwha during the wars, but only a handful of Aho survived to continue the fight at the start of the second war. He assisted Māori during their early battles, and passed on much of his great knowledge, but soon found himself tricked into entering a trap.

​It was in an intricate labyrinth that Ra Tere found himself a vicitim of the treachery of the Taniwha – he disappeared without trace but his spirit was later found by Werahiko Hamiora (“The Tail Of The Taniwha” ).

​Together they retrieved the sacred taupiko (greenstone pendant) passed to him by Wairua Toa, but were unable to find his other more-formidable weapons. These remain inside the secluded cave and have not been discovered.