Story: First peoples in Māori tradition

Places associated with Māui

Places associated with Māui

Māui is associated with many places around Aotearoa. The best known are the North Island, as the fish he hauled up (Te Ika-a-Māui), the South Island as his canoe (Te Waka-a-Māui) and Stewart Island as his canoe’s anchor stone (Te Punga-o-te-waka-a-Māui). Forming the fins of the fish are the two places known as Te Pakau-o-te-ika-a-Māui – on either side of the North Island. There are many more, including Lake Taupō, the navel of the fish (Te Pito-o-te-ika-a-Māui) and the Kaikōura Peninsula (Te Taumanu-o-te-waka-a-Māui), the canoe seat from which Māui stood as he hauled up the fish. There are clusters of names associated with Māui on both sides of Cook Strait and in the Hokianga.

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How to cite this page:

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, 'First peoples in Māori tradition - Māui', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/map/2382/places-associated-with-maui (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, published 8 Feb 2005