Maungahaumi facts for kids
Maungahaumi is a tall mountain located in the Raukumara Range. This mountain range is found in the northeast part of New Zealand's North Island.
Maungahaumi stands 1213 meters (about 3979 feet) high. It is one of the four main peaks in the Raukumara Range. This range is like a backbone of mountains stretching across much of the North Island.
Near Maungahaumi, there's a lower area called a saddle. This saddle separates the Raukumara Range from the Huiarau Range. The main road, State Highway 2, crosses this saddle at Traffords Hill. This road connects Gisborne to Opotiki in the Bay of Plenty.
Many rivers start on the sides of Maungahaumi. These include the Motu River and several smaller rivers that flow into the Waipaoa River.
Cultural Importance and Name
Maungahaumi is a very important mountain for the Māori tribe called Te Āitanga-a-Māhaki. It is considered their main ancestral mountain. Other related tribal groups and hapū (sub-tribes) in the Tūranga region also see Maungahaumi as a special place.
The Story Behind the Name
The name Maungahaumi comes from an old story about the Horouta waka. A waka is a traditional Māori canoe. This story tells about its long journey from Hawaiki to New Zealand.
The Horouta waka, led by its captain Paoa, faced a big storm. Strong winds and rough seas badly damaged the canoe. Its hull (the main body) and bow (the front part) were broken. The waka and its crew were washed ashore at Ohiwa, near Opotiki.
After landing, Paoa and his crew went inland to find materials to fix their waka. They climbed into the mountain ranges. It was on the mountain we now call Maungahaumi that Paoa found special tōtara trees. The wood from these trees was perfect for repairing the waka. It helped to join the broken hull and bow pieces back together.
Because of this important event, Paoa named the mountain Maungahaumi. The name comes from two Māori words:
- Maunga means "mountain."
- Haumi means "to join together."
So, Maungahaumi means "the mountain of joining together." It is a way to remember how the mountain provided the resources to fix the waka. This amazing tale is also told in an old Māori chant called "Haramai a Paoa."
