Story: Whenua – how the land was shaped

Lake Ellesmere (3rd of 3)

Lake Ellesmere

Lake Ellesmere was one of the waterways dug out by Rākaihautū, and was renowned for its bountiful supply of fish, including eels, flounder, whitebait and yellow-eyed mullet. Māori knew the lake as Te Keteika-a-Rākaihautū (Rākaihautū’s food basket).

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GNS Science
Reference: CN23311
Photograph by Lloyd Homer

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How to cite this page:

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, 'Whenua – how the land was shaped - Lakes, rivers and harbours', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/6757/lake-ellesmere (accessed 4 October 2023)

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, published 12 Jun 2006