Now that he had tasted human flesh, Tutae-poroporo found it much to his liking, and he seized and devoured all the people who came in canoes down the river. At first the tribes who lived higher up the river did not know what was happening; they thought that their friends must long ago have reached their destinations. But after a time, when their friends did not return and they could hear no news of them, the people became alarmed. They joined together, loaded their canoes, and started off down the river, but they so arranged things that some canoes went ahead of the others. They did this so that if the first canoes got into trouble, the rest could either escape or go to their assistance. Soon they drew near to the place where the taniwha lived. He saw them and made for them, bellowing hideously. The men in the first canoes could not escape; they were caught and eaten. But those behind them paddled to the bank, abandoned their canoes, and fled to their homes. Thus it became known that a taniwha held possession of the river, and all the people who lived in the lower reaches of the river left their villages and fled inland into the hills. Then the tribes began to consider how they could rid themselves of the monster. They held many meetings, and did much talking. But for a long time they could think of no solution, because all feared to do battle with such a mighty monster. At last Tama, an old chief, rose up and said to the assembled people. ‘I have heard of a man named Ao-Kehu, who lives at Wai-totara. He is a great warrior, and he has been victorious over many monsters. Perhaps he will be willing to help us.’ Then all the people said, ‘Go and ask him if he will do this, for our need is great’. So Tama departed, and went to Wai-totara, and was welcomed by the people there. Then Tama said to Ao-kehu, the slayer of taniwhas. ‘I have come to you because all our people have been consumed by the taniwha Tutae-poroporo. Our land is desolate and our homes are abandoned, for our people are scattered abroad through fear of this monster’. ‘We have heard of this taniwha’, Ao-kehu said then, ‘and of how he preys upon your people. Rise up, and go, for tomorrow we will come to do battle with the monster’. So Tama returned to his home. Early next morning Ao-kehu set off for Whanganui, accompanied by seventy of his warriors. He took with him two famous weapons, which were shaped something like a saw, with sharks' teeth along both edges. When he arrived at Whanganui he was met by Tama and his people, and the customary greetings were exchanged. Then Ao-kehu ordered his people to find a log and cut out of it a box long enough to hold a man, and also to make a close-fitting lid for it. Soon the box was completed, and the warrior lay inside it, taking with him his two weapons. The lid was bound down securely, the holes were filled with clay to make it watertight, and Ao-Kehu was set afloat. Then all the people climbed to the top of the high cliffs over the river, so that they could see what would happen.