Ikatere


In Māori and Polynesian mythology, Ikatere, also spelled Ika-tere, is a fish god, the father of all sea creatures, including mermaids.
He is a son of Punga, and a grandson of Tangaroa, and his brother is Tū-te-wehiwehi.

Disagreements between brothers

When Tāwhirimātea made war against his brothers for the separation of Rangi and Papa, Ikatere and Tū-te-wehiwehi were among those who had to flee from his wrath for their survival. The two argued over whether they should stay in the sea or go to the land. Ikatere chose to keep his children, the fish, to the sea, while Tū-te-wehiwehi chose to take his children, reptiles, to the land. A saying that refers to the choices they made for their descendants goes as such: