Mount Maunganui (mountain)
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2023) |
Mount Maunganui Mauao | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 232 m (761 ft) |
Coordinates | 37°37′48″S 176°10′16″E / 37.630°S 176.171°E |
Geography | |
Location | Tauranga Bay of Plenty, North Island, New Zealand |
Topo map | NZMS 260 sheet: U14 |
Geology | |
Age of rock | 2.35 ± 0.06 Ma[2] |
Mountain type | Lava dome[1] |
Climbing | |
Easiest route | Trail |
Mount Maunganui, or Mauao, known to locals as The Mount, , beside the eastern entrance to the city's harbour.
Local Māori consider Mauao to be tapu (sacred), and it plays an important role in their mythology. They own the mountain and manage it jointly with Tauranga City Council.
Mauao is open to the public and is popular for scenic walks, jogging, parasailing and hang gliding. In recent years, fires and storm damage have required replanting and track repairs.
Etymology
'Maunganui' means 'big mountain' in English. The alternative name 'Mauao' means 'caught by the morning sun'.
Maori legend
In the ancient times of the Māori people, there lived a nameless hill. He sat alone in a discarded inland area and was slave to Otanewainuku, the most prestigious mountain of Tauranga Moana (greater Tauranga area). Nearby there lived a captivating hill whose name was Puwhenua; she was adorned with the beauty of
The patupaiarehe decided to give the name Mauao to this mountain, which now marks the entrance into Tauranga Harbour. The literal translation of Mauao is "caught by the dawn". In time this mountain assumed its own great prestige and mana even over his once rival Otanewainuku and now stands as the symbol of all tribes of Tauranga Moana.[citation needed]
Geology
Mount Maunganui is a large rhyolitic lava dome located at the northern end of the Tauranga Volcanic Centre[2]. It is one of at least 17 lava domes in the Minden Rhyolite Subgroup. It last erupted approximately 2.35 ± 0.06 million years ago.
Early history of Tauranga and Mauao
The name Tauranga can be translated as meaning 'place of rest' or 'anchorage'. The earliest people known to have resided in the Tauranga area are the Purukupenga, whose name alone survives, and the Ngamarama, who inhabited all the land from the Waimapu Stream to the
Many people of different waka passed through and some stayed. This included those of the Tainui canoe, which made only a brief stay, although evidence of their visit can be linked to “nga pehi o Tainui”, the ballast of Tainui, now known as Ratahi Rock.[citation needed]
Another was the Te Arawa canoe which made landfall at Maketu, with some of her crew occupying the land between the Tauranga harbour and the Kaituna River. After the departure of Tainui the Takitimu canoe then entered the Tauranga harbour. Its captain, Tamatea Arikinui, climbed to the summit of Mauao (Mount Maunganui) to offer karakia (prayers) and to bury there the mauri (life force) of his people.[citation needed]
Tamatea built a pa (stockaded village) on the hill known as Maungatawa, where his people settled.
According to archaeologist there has been evidence of three pa sites recorded on top of and around Mauao. The final encounter of warfare ended at the cliffs of Mauao between Ngaiterangi and Ngapuhi. Armed with muskets Ngapuhi decided to intimidate and force their way through under the command of Te Morenga in 1820, the large pa site was not re-occupied after this battle. A peace was made with Ngapuhi shortly afterwards by Te Waru of Ngaiterangi.[5]
MV Ranui
At about 5pm on 28 December 1950, 23 people were drowned (three crew and 20 passengers) when the 6 tonne, 14 metre (45 foot) passenger launch Ranui was driven on to North West Rock at the base of the mountain by an exceptionally high wave. The launch capsized and was smashed to pieces. The only survivor was 19-year-old Phillip "Bluey" Smith. A Marine Court found no fault with the boat's master or owners.[6]
The vessel's engine was wedged between rocks on the seaward edge of the base track above North West Rock. A brass plaque was installed in memory of those who died.[7]
Ownership
On 14 May 2008, New Zealand's Parliament transferred ownership of Mauao from the Crown to the
Iwi jointly manage Mauao alongside Tauranga City Council.
See also
References
- ^ "Mt Maunganui". Te Ara. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ .
- ^ "Mount Maunganui - Things to see and do". Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ "Tauranga Moana - The Tauranga tribes". Te Ara. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ Evelyn Stokes (1980) Stories of Tauranga Moana, Mauao
- ^ Ranui, An encyclopedia of New Zealand 1966
- ^ Painful memories of Ranui disaster, New Zealand Herald, 27 December 2000, retrieved 23 September 2015.
- ^ Houlahan, Mike (15 May 2008). "Iwi celebrate return of 'The Mount'". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- Preliminary Archaeological Survey, Ken Phillips (2003)
- Tauranga Mythology: The Story of Mauao
- Tauranga City: Mauao, archaeological perspective
- Tauranga City: Legend of the naming of Mauao
- http://library.tauranga.govt.nz
- http://www.teara.govt.nz/NewZealanders/MaoriNewZealanders/TaurangaMoanaTribes/1/en
External links
- Mount Maunganui Tourism Website
- Evelyn Stokes (1980) Stories of Tauranga Moana: Mauao
- Evelyn Stokes (1990) Te Raupatu o Tauranga Moana (The confiscations of Tauranga land)