Story: Whenua – how the land was shaped

Māui’s fish hook

Māui’s fish hook

When Māui fished up the North Island, he is said to have used a hook made from the jawbone of his grandmother, Murirangawhenua. The curve of Cape Kidnappers / Te Kauwae-a-Māui represents the hook, and is also known as Te Matau-a-Māui (Māui’s fish hook).

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Private collection
Photograph by Kynan Gentry

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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/8521/mauis-fish-hook (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, published 12 Jun 2006