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Story: Ngāti Whātua

Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill), Tāmaki-makau-rau

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Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill), Tāmaki-makau-rau

Auckland’s main tribe, Te Wai-o-Hua, led by Kiwi Tāmaki, was threatened by the dominance of Te Taoū at south Kaipara Harbour. Kiwi Tāmaki promised to hang the breastbone of the Te Taoū leader Waha-akiaki on Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill) in Auckland. But at the end of the conflict the Ngāti Whātua chief Tuperiri established his pā, Hikurangi, on One Tree Hill. The hill is pictured here before the monument was built on its summit.

Using this item

Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Reference: 1-W9

by Henry Winkelmann

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Rāwiri Taonui, Ngāti Whātua – The tribes of Ngāti Whātua, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/1200/maungakiekie-one-tree-hill-tamaki-makau-rau (accessed 16 July 2026).

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 4 March 2009, updated 1 March 2017.