The legend of Mauao

There was once a nameless hill that lived in the Hautere Forest. He was a slave to one of the most prestigious mountains of Tauranga Moana, called Otanewainuku. In the southwest lived a very beautiful mountain, her name was Puwhenua, who was adorned with the vibrant colorful flowers berries ferns and trees the children of Tane Mahuta (God of the Forest). The nameless hill was desperately in love with Puwhenua, but her heart had been captivated by Otanewainuku. When the nameless hill found that there was no hope left for him, he decided to take his life by drowning himself in Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa ( Pacific Ocean).

He called upon the Patupaiarehe, the Fairy People of Hautere Forest, who possessed magical powers to help him. When night fell the Patupaiarehe lashed the nameless hill with thousands of plaited ropes and began chanting and praying hauling pushing him towards the ocean. The nameless one began his sad and forlorn journey.

As they pulled him along, he formed a valley, through this valley now flows the Waimapu River.  The task was hard and arduous and they rested in a very calm and peaceful place this is now known as the “Valley of Sighing Waters” Indigenous Trails will take you into this valley where you will hear personally from your Indigenous Trails’ Guide the story of Mauao. You will also be guided through a nature walk in his breathtaking valley.

The Patupaiarehe continued on with their journey forming the Tauranga Moana channels past the Marae of Hairini, Maungatapu, Matapihi Whareroa and Te Papa to the very edge of the Ocean. The nameless mountain asked for one more glance back into the hills to immortalize Puwhenua’s beauty within his heart But as he looked upon her beauty the sun rose up over the horizon and the patupaiarehe immediately fled back to the cover of the Forest.

The Patupaiarehe named the hill Mauao, which literally means “Caught by the light of Day”. Today he is also known by Mount Maunganui, but the Maori the people of the land still call him Mauao. Today he stands as a symbol of Mana for the three tribes of Tauranga Moana.