Te Awhio Motu was born in Te Hapua and was educated at Te Hapua Native School. He was associated with Maungari Marae in Mt Wellington and was tohunga of Te Mahuhu-o-te-rangi waka.
Biographical sources
- Phone conversation with Rangi Motu, 30 July 1998.
- Motu, Te Awhio. "Waka Culture." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 30 (Feb 1990): 14.
Non-fiction
- "Waka Culture." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 30 (Feb. 1990): 14-15.
- Motu gives a description of his work as kaumatua of Te Mahuhu-o-te-rangi waka and discusses the training of the kai hoe and the tapu surrounding the building and rowing of the waka.