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Story: Ngāti Tūwharetoa

‘Tauhara from Taupo’, by Charles Barraud

‘Tauhara from Taupo’, by Charles Barraud

While Tia was journeying, the other early explorer Ngātoroirangi saw Mt Tauhara and determined to build an altar on the summit. When he saw Tia in the same area, he decided to follow him around the lake. This 1874 painting shows Tauhara as viewed from Lake Taupō.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: B-006-016

by Charles Decimus Barraud

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Martin Wikaira, Ngāti Tūwharetoa – The journeys of Ngātoroirangi and Tia, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/1168/tauhara-from-taupo-by-charles-barraud (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Martin Wikaira, published 4 March 2009, updated 1 March 2017.

Comments

Te Moananui Rameka
29 October 2023
In a time long before humanity took its first steps, legends spoke of Tauhara, a proud male mountain, who was wedded to Pihanga, the embodiment of beauty in the form of a majestic female peak. Together, they were blessed with twin peaks known as Maunga Namunamu. In this age of primeval beauty, several mighty male mountains, namely Tongariro, Ngaruahoe, Ruapehu, Taupiri, and Taranaki, cast their envious gazes upon the resplendent Pihanga. Overwhelmed by her allure, each desired her as their own. Among them, Tongariro, the most formidable of the lot, threw down a challenge to Tauhara. A duel was declared, the stake being the possession of the enchanting Pihanga. Though valiant in his defence, Tauhara was outmatched by the sheer might of Tongariro. Having claimed his victory, Tongariro decreed that the other mountains must depart from the vicinity. Pihanga, with tears streaming down her slopes, begged to retain both her twins. Moved by her pleas, Tongariro allowed her to keep one while the other departed alongside the defeated Tauhara. To this day, Tauhara stands gallantly on the southern banks of the lake, with one of the Maunga Namunamu twins nestled at his base. The other twin rests near Pihanga, always casting hopeful glances at her, awaiting a time when they might be reunited.
Christine Kidwell
07 August 2010
Tauhara Maunga was known by hapuu from Ngati Kurapoto as a women. As you travel down the Mapara Rd Hill looking East you can see the outline of her laying there in her majestic beauty and she is pregnant. In 1978 when my father retired from the Napier wharf he took us for a drive and spoke to us about Tauhara Maunga. As you travel north, south, east, and west it is a navigational point to lead you home. Her beauty is portrayed, if that is of significance to you. In the same token the other story is if death comes upon a Chief or person of high esteem in Tuwharetoa, the highest peak has a mound of clouds on it which is in the shape of a potae/hat another site for the eyes to gaze upon. This picture is significant to a man.