Turi, according to MÃÂori tradition, was the captain of the Aotea canoe and an important ancestor for many MÃÂori iwi, particularly in the Taranaki region.
Turi was a vassal to chief Uenuku of Hawaiki. One year, after Turi's tribute to Uenuku was insufficient as the annual harvest was not as plentiful as usual, Uenuku killed Turi's son Potikiroroa for food supply. Turi's father Rongotea retaliated by killing Awepotiki, the son of Uenuku, and hiding his heart inside a kà «mara (sweet potato) tribute to Uenuku. The conflict led Turi and his people to depart for New Zealand with many others in the Aotea. This canoe had been given to Turi by Toto, father of Turi's wife Rongorongo. In some traditions, Turi and his party stopped at RangitÃÂhua, believed by some to be Raoul of the Kermadec Islands, where they encountered some of the crew from the Kurahaupà  canoe. Continuing, Turi and his followers eventually arrived and settled at Aotea Harbour on the west coast of the North Island.
After some time at Aotea Harbour, Turi settled the PÃÂtea region, where he lived with his people along PÃÂtea River. His daughter TÃÂneroroa married Ruanui, the eponymous ancestor of NgÃÂti Ruanui.