According to legend, the spirit of Uenuku was brought from Hawaiki to New Zealand in a stone by the people on the Tainui canoe. When they landed, they made the large carving called "Te Uenuku" out of a tōtara tree with a round opening at the top, in which the stone was placed so that the god could live in the carving. It is unique among other Māori carvings, and looks similar to Hawaiian carving styles.