Potiki Characters

Toko is the son of Mary Tamihana and the adoptive son of Hemi and Roimata. His siblings are James, Tangimoana, and Manu. His great-grandmother, Granny Tamihana, names him after her… read analysis of Toko (Tokowaru-i-te-Marama)

Roimata is one of the two main narrators and central figures of Potiki. She is the wife of Hemi Tamihana, the mother of James, Tangimoana, Manu, and the loving sister-in-law… read analysis of Roimata Kararaina

Hemi Tamihana is the son of Granny Tamihana, the brother of Mary, Roimata’s husband, and the natural or adoptive father of James, Tangimoana, Manu, and Toko. Hemi is… read analysis of Hemi Tamihana

Granny Tamihana is the matriarch of the Tamihana family, the grandmother of Hemi, Stan, and Mary, and the great-grandmother of James, Tangimoana, Manu, and Toko. Born early in… read analysis of Granny Tamihana

Reuben is a peer and friend of Hemi, the grandson of Rupena, and the father of Pena. A Māori man from the displaced Te Ope community, Reuben resents the racism and prejudice… read analysis of Reuben

Tangimoana is the second child of Roimata and Hemi and the sister of James, Manu, and Toko. Her mother describes her as impatient and irritable, like the sea. She is deeply protective… read analysis of Tangimoana Tamihana

James Tamihana is the eldest child of Roimata and Hemi and the older brother of Tangimoana, Manu, and Toko. Roimata describes him as grounded and patient, like his father. He does well… read analysis of James Tamihana

The novel’s antagonist, Mr. Dolman is the White property developer who wants to build a tourist resort along the coast where the Tamihana family lives. Known to be a ruthless, well-connected, and potentially dangerous man… read analysis of Mr. Dolman

Manu Tamihana is the youngest of Roimata and Hemi’s biological children and the brother of James, Tangimoana, and Toko. Born prematurely, Manu was frail and spent several weeks in the hospital… read analysis of Manu Tamihana

Rupena is a Māori man who grew up at Te Ope. He is of Granny Tamihana’s generation. When the government appropriated the land at Te Ope to build an airstrip during WWII, Rupena and… read analysis of Rupena

The carver is the man who created the poupou in the Tamihana clan’s wharenui. The only child of his parents and a sickly child at that, the carver spent his early years as an invalid… read analysis of Carver

Pena is Reuben’s son. When people from the Te Ope community come to help the Tamihanas reclaim and resow their flooded gardens, Pena falls in love with Tangimoana. He is one of the… read analysis of Pena

Joe-billy is a White man who likes to spend summers camping on the beach near the Tamihana land. He is friendly with the clan and is especially kind to the children. Mary gives him his… read analysis of Joe-billy (Joseph Williams)