The camp was pitched near where the Taueru river flows into the Ruamahanga river. The taniwha came upon the campers so suddenly, that very few were able to escape from the monster. Among those who escaped was Konini, the beautiful maiden who was betrothed to Tupurupuru. Konini lived with her parents at Kehemane, near the present road from Martinborough to Pope's Head, on the bank of the Huangaroa river. A few days before the taniwha Ngarara Huarau raided the fishing camp at Taueru, Tupurupuru had journeyed to Kehemane to visit his beloved Konini. On arrival there he was told that she had left with a party to go fishing at the Taueru river. Tu immediately left in great fear as the taniwha had been very restive of late. On arrival at the fishing camp, and seeing the terrible havoc that the taniwha had made, he immediately hastened to Hurunuiorangi, which was the nearest pa, to make inquiries. The people there told Tu that a number of their people had been killed by the taniwha, but that Konini had been with a party snaring pigeons, and had escaped somewhere, perhaps to Hinewaka. Tu refused to rest or take food, and hurried on to the Ruamahanga river, where he plunged in and swam swiftly for the opposite shore. He travelled up the Maungarakis to Hinewaka. By the time he reached Hinewaka, he was becoming very weary, so accepted the food that was pressed upon him, and rested. He was very disappointed that his friends had seen no trace of Konini's party. Komene Tahana, the chief of Hinewaka, suggested to Tu that perhaps Konini and her friends had fled north to Ngaumutawa, so Tu, deeply troubled, said goodbye to his friends at Hinewaka, and set off down the hill to Taueru, and swam the river to the other side. Just as darkness was falling he came to one of his favourite caves, the stopping place at Te Whiti. Tupurupuru was now eager to be on his way, because while he was in a deep sleep at the cave, his father Mananui appeared before him and raising his hand in salute, had said, ‘Greetings, my son. You have done well, and I have come to calm your fears. You shall hear of your beloved Konini if you go to Ngaumutawa, but you will not find her without further worry. Remember that wedlock is tapu to you until after you have destroyed the taniwha Ngarara Huarau. Also, my son, you have only one man to fear. Beware of Morunga, he is full of treachery. Farewell my son, until you have carried out my heart's desire. Then will I appear before you again.’ So Tupurupuru left his cave, and sped swiftly north with great eagerness, hoping to see his beloved Konini safe and well. Again swimming the Ruamahanga, near where the Waingawa river flows into it, he hurried to Ngaumutawa. Here he learned that Konini and her party had left two days ahead of him for Hakakino, by way of Kaikokirikiri. There he learned that the party had stayed for only a short while and then set off for Hakakino, on the banks of the Wainuioru river. After accepting a little food to help him on his way, Tu set out on a well-beaten track to the east, then after crossing the Ruamahanga river once more, swiftly passed through the dense forest on to Te Oreore flats, climbed the Weraiti hills and came to the Taueru river. Crossing the river, he decided to pause awhile beside the Patukawa stream for food and drink before striking out up the spur on the track to Kumukumu, and then on to Hakakino pa. While travelling along a certain spur, he thought he had heard a sound ahead. Springing behind a large matai tree, he peered through the leaves of the rangiora which were very dense thereabouts, and saw a runner coming down the track panting heavily. As the runner passed, Tu pounced upon him, seizing him in his powerful arms. He threw him to the ground, knelt upon him and cried out, ‘Ko wai koe’ (who are you). Then seeing that the runner was winded, Tu waited for him to speak. Presently the runner spoke, ‘I am Epihana Te Tau. I was visiting friends at Hakakino, when we were raided by a Te Raki taua (a northern war party). We were overpowered and the place was ransacked.’ Hearing this, Tu sprang up and cried. ‘When did this happen. Did you see a tall beautiful maiden by the name of Konini? Come, answer, man!’ ‘It happened this morning.’ the runner said, ‘and Konini was among five or six of us who dived off the cliff into the Wainuioru river. The last I saw of her. she was swimming downstream.’