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Story: Te Ao Mārama – the natural world

Mt Tongariro

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Mt Tongariro

When asked about their identity, Māori will often refer to their maunga (mountain), awa (river), and revered ancestor. For those of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa tribe, the mountain is Tongariro – the flat, snowy mountain (foreground). Next to it is the snowy cone of Ngāuruhoe, with Mt Ruapehu at far left.

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GNS Science

Reference: 28707

by Lloyd Homer

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How to cite this page

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, Te Ao Mārama – the natural world – The importance of the land, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/7965/mt-tongariro (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, published 1 March 2009.