Story: Whenua – how the land was shaped

Hikurangi

Hikurangi

In some traditions Māui stood on the Kaikōura Peninsula when he hauled up his great fish, the North Island. In other versions, the first piece of land to emerge from the sea was Hikurangi, the sacred mountain of the Ngāti Porou people. They believe that Māui’s canoe, Nukutaimemeha, remains stranded on the mountain’s peak.

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Reference: 41063
Photograph by Lloyd Homer

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How to cite this page:

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, 'Whenua – how the land was shaped - The North and South islands', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/6723/hikurangi (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, published 12 Jun 2006