During their subsequent journeys, they overcame numerous monsters and sea demons, including the great octopus named as Te Wheke-a-Muturangi, and discovered New Zealand.
A 2006 article described Kome as a member of the Kupe Muanenguba elite, which also included Napoleon Besong Nyake, Professor Elvis Ngolle Ngolle, appointed Minister of Forests and Wildlife on 22 September 2006, Chief Justice Epuli Aloh Mathias, Professor Charles Epie Alobwede, Professor Paul Ndue,Thomas Kolle Ekaney, Ambassador Nkwelle Ekaney, Paul Eulong chief Alex Ngome Ntoko, Chief Nhon Nzoh Ngandembou, Mr. Ngole Philip Ngwese,Hon.
Maori tradition is that both of these islands received their original Māori names from Kupe, the semi-legendary first navigator to reach New Zealand and get home again with reports of the new land, but this cannot be verified.
In 1979 a single specimen of Ardisia koupensis was collected from the western slopes of Mount Kupe, just above Mbule.