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Story: Tāmaki tribes

Maungawhau (Mt Eden)

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Maungawhau

The crater of Maungawhau (Mt Eden) seen here was called Te Ipu-a-Mataaho (the bowl of Mataaho) because this is where Mataaho lived. It is also said that the other volcanic cones of Auckland were formed when Mataaho’s wife left him and took his clothes, so the goddess Mahuika sent fires to warm him.

Using this item

GNS Science

Reference: 1897/23

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, Tāmaki tribes – Tribal history and places, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/3920/maungawhau-mt-eden (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 4 March 2009, updated 22 March 2017.