In Māori and Polynesian mythology, Ikatere, also spelled Ika-tere,^[1] ('fast fish')^[2] 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^[1][2] (Grey 1971:1–5).

When Tāwhirimātea (god of storms) made war against his brothers for the separation of Rangi and Papa (sky and earth), Ikatere and Tū-te-wehiwehi were among those who had to flee from his wrath for their survival.^[1][2] The two argued over whether they should stay in the sea or go to the land.^[2] Ikatere chose to keep his children, the fish, to the sea,^[1] while Tū-te-wehiwehi chose to take his children, reptiles, to the land.^[2] A saying that refers to the choices they made for their descendants goes as such:

Māori	Translation
Tāua ki uta, tāua ki te wai.	We of the land, we of the sea.[2]

Grey 1971:1–5

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