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Story: Canoe traditions

Māhia Peninsula

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Māhia Peninsula

There are several stories about the Kurahaupō canoe, which is also known in Northland. According to some Taranaki people it was wrecked in Hawaiki; Rangitāne say that Whātonga was the captain and it was wrecked on Māhia Peninsula, pictured here. Ngāti Apa agree that it was wrecked on Māhia but say that Ruātea was the captain.

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GNS Science

Reference: 22841/18

by Lloyd Homer

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Rāwiri Taonui, Canoe traditions – Canoes of the west coast and lower North Island, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/2363/mahia-peninsula (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 4 March 2009.