A tohunga may have also been the head of a whānau (family) but quite often was also a rangatira (chief) and an ariki (noble). The equivalent and cognate in Hawaiian culture is kahuna, tahu'a in Tahitian.
In Māori culture, a tohunga could be the head of a whānau (family), but often held the roles of rangatira (chief) and ariki (noble). The equivalent and similar position in Hawaiian culture is kahuna, while tahu'a holds the same role in Tahitian.