Mount Maunganui (mountain), Tauranga, New Zealand | CruiseBe
Average: 9.2 (10 votes)

Alexander Klink - Photo is my own work, taken using a Minolta"> ||| Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Mount Maunganui (mountain)

Natural sights
nature,hills,mount,extinct volcanic cone,walking

Mauao, or Mount Maunganui, commonly known by locals as just The Mount, is an extinct volcanic cone at the end of a peninsula and the town of Mount Maunganui, by the eastern entrance to the Tauranga Harbour in New Zealand. It is considered very important and tapu (sacred) by the local Māori iwi, featuring extensively in local mythology. It is also of significant historical value. The summit is 232 metres above sea level.

In recent years there have been several fires on the mountain, in turn triggering a number of replanting efforts. Since Mount Maunganui has been open to the general public it has become a popular location for many activities including scenic walks, jogging and even hang gliding.

Maori legend

In the ancient times of the Maori 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. Nearby there lived a captivating hill whose name was Puwhenua; she was adorned with the beauty of Tanemahuta (God of the Forest). The nameless one desired the affection of Puwhenua, but her heart had already been won by Otanewainuku. This resulted in disparity which led the nameless one to decide to take his life by drowning in Te Moananui-a-Kiwa (Pacific Ocean). So he called upon his companions the patupaiarehe (fairy people) who dwelt in the dark recesses of the forest. The patupaiarehe were people of the night and possessed magical powers. The nameless one knew that with their help his ambition to end his life will be accomplished. When night fell, they laced the nameless one with dozens of ropes and began to heave and pull. The land rumbled as the patupaiarehe forced the nameless one from his position. A valley was gouged as they heaved him along, which is where the Waimapu river now flows. They continued along the Tauranga Moana channels where Hairini, Maungatapu and Matapihi reside. Upon their arrival near the great ocean of Kiwa, daybreak was fast approaching. Unfortunately for the nameless one this was proving to be quite a complex and problematic task. The rays of Tama nui te ra (Sun) began to light up the summit of the nameless hill and before they knew it, the patupaiarehe were exposed to the rays of light, so they retreated back to the depths of the forests.

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.

Early history of Tauranga and Mauao


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.




MV Ranui

At about 5pm on 28 December 1950 23 people were drowned (3 crew and 20 passengers) when the 6 ton 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 was capsized and was smashed to pieces. The only survivor was a 19-year-old youth, Phillip "Bluey" Smith. A Marine Court found no fault with the boats master or owners.

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.


On 14 May 2008, New Zealand's Parliament adopted legislation whereby ownership of Mount Maunganui was transferred from the Crown to the Ngati Te Rangi, Ngati Ranginui and Ngati Pukenga iwi. The land had been alienated following the 1863 land wars. ||| Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0

Latest posts