Story: Papatūānuku – the land

The metaphorical union between people and the land, Papatūānuku, is seen in places named after parts of the human body. The Tararua Range was declared to be Te Tuarātapu-o-Te Rangihaeata (the sacred back of Te Rangihaeata) to commemorate a peace arrangement between Ngāti Toa and Ngāti Kahungunu. The range became a dividing line between Ngāti Toa on the west side and Ngāti Kahungunu on the east. This view looks along the ridge between Aokaparangi and Mt Hector.