 The Maero are said to harbour anger towards the Māori, who arrived from Hawaiki, displaced them and ruined the tapu (sacredness) of their homes, forcing them to dwell in inhospitable alpine regions.In a story from the Whanganui area, Tukoio,a mortal man, once found a Maero and attacked it, cutting off its arms, legs and head.He brought the head back, but it was still alive and called for help.