RÃÂhiri (estimated to have lived sometime between 1475 and 1585) is the tà «puna (ancestor) of NgÃÂpuhi of Northland and NgÃÂti RÃÂhiri Tumutumu of the Hauraki District in New Zealand. The NgÃÂpuhi today is the largest MÃÂori iwi (tribe) in New Zealand.
RÃÂhiri's significance for NgÃÂpuhi is that all the chiefly lines of descent in NgÃÂpuhi trace descent through him. As the saying goes:
RÃÂhiri lived some time in the period 1475âÂÂ1585, based on whakapapa (genealogical) calculations. He traced descent from Kupe of the Matawhaorua canoe and Nukutawhiti of the enlarged and renamed NgÃÂtokimatawhaorua canoe. He was the son of Tauramoko and Te Hauangiangi, and was born at Whiria pÃÂ, near Opononi in the Hokianga.
His first wife was Ahuaiti from Pouerua. From this union came the first-born son, Uenuku. Uenuku was also known as Uenuku-kuare (Uenuku who was not blessed upon birth due to the ignorance of those accompanying his mother): while still a young boy, together with his mother Ahuaiti, he was cast out by RÃÂhiri and it was only when he was a young man that he was reconciled with his father RÃÂhiri. Ahuaiti had allegedly given her visiting brothers some of RÃÂhiri's best fern root, contrary to his instructions to her. This was the reason for her exile. RÃÂhiri's second wife was Whakaruru and from this union came Kaharau who, together with Uenuku founded the military might of NgÃÂpuhi.
Upon reconciliation, the then territories of NgÃÂpuhi were divided up by RÃÂhiri on the basis of the flight and landing place of the kite, Tuhoronuku. Uenuku and Kaharau further consolidated connection through marriage of children.
RÃÂhiri had other wives, two being Moetonga and Paru, descendants of these wives respectively settling the west and east coasts within NgÃÂpuhi-controlled territories, creating hapà « in those places.