Kurungaituku was a famous woman huntress. She lived in forest regions on the southern boundaries of Rotorua. She met her death in the bubbling cauldrons of Whakarewarewa.
In her cave on jutting Puhaturoa (the lofty 'rock'), Kurungaituku kept many tame animals and beautiful birds as pets. She was gifted with the speed of the fastest athlete, and her winged arms enabled her to skim across the mountains and valleys of her domain.
On a hunting expedition one day, Kurungaituku was accidentally impaled through her lips by the spear of a young Te Arawa chief by the name of Hatupatu. She was fuming. After a chase, she angrily took him prisoner, adding him to her prized collection of other forest creatures in her cave.
After some time and frustration at his ongoing imprisonment, Hatupatu resolved to escape. The problem lay in that the many other creatures he shared captivity with watched him as fervently as his captor. So, despite the fact that Kurangaitutu left each day to hunt, he remained in many ways guarded. However, after encouraging Kurungaituku to go further on a hunting expedition on promise of more luscious and tasty game, Hatupatu took his chance. He took a two handed weapon and killed the tame island birds, animals and lizards - all except one, a tiny riroriro (grey warbler) who hid while Hatupatu killed all within the cave. This bird took to the skies to reach Kurangaituku and tell of her human prisoner's escape. With three giant strides she reached her cave home to see the damage Hatupatu had caused and set off toward Rotorua in pursuit of him. By that time, Hatupatu had reached Atiamuri and, using the powers of incantation learned from his father, he commanded a rock to open for him. He hid himself in there from Kurangaituku who was close behind. After she had passed, he followed behind en route to the safety of his family. But at the final few miles, Kurungaituku caught glimpses of him and again began her pursuit. Hatupatu's only escape was through the cauldrons of Whakarewarewa and he took this path. Kurungaituku followed, however she was not aware of the unfamiliar terrain and treachery bubbling beneath the surface. The bubbling mud and soft ground was her downfall. She fell into the cauldrons and was scolded to death.
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