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Story: Ngā waewae tapu – Māori exploration

Rotorua lakes

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Rotorua lakes

This view over the Rotorua lakes is taken from Mt Tarawera. Two of the lakes were named by the explorers Īhenga and Kahumatamomoe: Te Rotoiti-a-Īhenga (Lake Rotoiti) and Te Rotoruanui-a-Kahumatamomoe (Lake Rotorua).

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How to cite this page

Rāwiri Taonui, Ngā waewae tapu – Māori exploration – Te Arawa explorers, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/14142/rotorua-lakes (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 1 March 2009.