Story: Te Arawa

Mokoia Island from Ōhinemutu

Mokoia Island from Ōhinemutu

This watercolour shows the fortifications of Ōhinemutu , with Mokoia Island dominating the lake outlook. The billowing clouds of steam are from geothermal mud pools. Today this area is downtown Rotorua. In 1836 Te Waharoa attempted to avenge Te Arawa’s annihilation of Ngāi Te Rangi (descendants of Rangihouhiri) at Te Tūmū by attacking Ōhinemutu, but was unsuccessful.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference: I.002374
Watercolour by John Guise Mitford

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Paora Tapsell, 'Te Arawa - Warfare and marriages', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/1534/mokoia-island-from-ohinemutu (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Paora Tapsell, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 1 Mar 2017