Tuteamutu was a MÃÂori rangatira (chief) of the Tà «hourangi iwi (tribe) in the Te Arawa confederation.
Tuteamutu was the son of Taketakehikuroa and grandson of Tà «hourangi, ancestor of the Tà «hourangi iwi, through whom he was descended from Tama-te-kapua, the captain of the Arawa by multiple lines. He had one full brother, Te Wiwiniorongo.
Tuteamutu settled at Pakotore on the Kaituna River, southwest of modern Paengaroa, with his son Kaorewhare. Kuramaiterangi of NgÃÂi Te Rangi came to Pakotore with a war party, blowing a trumpet and demanding that Tuteamutu and his people hand over food to him. The people of Pakotore were eating aruhe (bracken fernroot) outside the settlement when he arrived and one of them, an old woman, called on the people to resist Kuramaiterangi, but they were afraid and withdrew into the fortress. Kuramaiterangi cursed the people of Pakotore, so the old lady told him off, and he cursed the people again in response. She sang a karakia, which caused him to fall down as he went to attack her. Then she smashed in his head using a fernroot pounder.
Fearing requital, Tuteamutu moved inland to Pukemotiti and Tauparahokio. Meanwhile, NgÃÂi Te Rangi sacked Pakotore and killed two Tà «hourangi leaders, Puraho and Te Mahanga. After the war party departed, Kaorewhare resettled Pakotore.
Tuteamutu married his cousin Te Aorauru, daughter of Uenukukà Âpako