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Kōrero: First peoples in Māori tradition

Motutere (Castle Rock)

Motutere (Castle Rock)

E 521 mita te teitei o tēnei puke kei te pae maunga o Moehau. Nā Ruamano i tapa te ingoa o Motutere. He uri a ia nō Tamatekapua, rangatira o Te Arawa. Ka ako ngā Māori kia haere mā ngā tuarā o ngā pae hiwi, kei mau i ngā ururua i ngā whāruarua. Hei te tōnga o te rā, tērā pea e rima kiromita anake ka pahure i te tangata i mua i te pōkia. Kīhai ngā karahiwi pēnei i a Motutere i haerea i aua wā.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library, William Archer Price Collection (PAColl-3057)

Reference: 1/2-000212; G

by William Archer Price

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, First peoples in Māori tradition – Patupaiarehe, tūrehu and other inhabitants, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/2402/motutere-castle-rock (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, i tāngia i te 4 March 2009.

Comments

Wanda
29 February 2016
Kia ora Ngati Huarere respectfully advise the maunga pictured is indeed Motutere. As Ngati Huarere hold the title to this maunga (the name on the title is Motutere) it is submitted here that Motutere (also known as Castle Rock) is the correct name. As indicated in the above discourse, Motutere was named by Ngati Huarere Chief Ruamano.
Peter
17 August 2012
Actually, this photo is taken from the north looking southward to Castle Rock. MOTUTERE is the mountain in the background on the right hand side (in the photo). Almost every map in print will substantiate this. The real name of Castle Rock is 'Tokatea a Hei'. The bones of Hei are interred on this sacred urupa maunga in a cave known as..... come and talk to Ngati Hei and we'll tell you all about it.