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Story: Ngāti Tūwharetoa

Pīhanga mountain

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Pīhanga mountain

According to a famous story, Pīhanga was a beautiful mountain. Four mountain warriors, Tongariro, Taranaki, Tauhara and Pūtauaki fell in love with her and fought to win her affections. In the end Tongariro was the victor. Pīhanga remains a beautiful mountain today.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

by Martin Wikaira

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How to cite this page

Martin Wikaira, Ngāti Tūwharetoa – Mountains and lakes, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/1185/pihanga-mountain (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Martin Wikaira, published 4 March 2009, updated 1 March 2017.