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Story: Papatūānuku – the land

Mt Hikurangi

Mt Hikurangi

Sunlight strikes the peak of Mt Hikurangi. Hikurangi is the mountain mentioned in the Ngāti Porou tribe’s pepeha (proverb):

Ko Hikurangi te maunga
Ko Waiapu te awa
Ko Ngāti Porou te iwi

Hikurangi is the mountain
Waiapu is the river
Ngāti Porou is the tribe.

A tribe’s relationship to their mountain and river is an important part of their sense of tūrangawaewae (place to stand).

About this item

GNS Science
Reference: 41063
Photograph by Lloyd Homer

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image

How to cite this page:

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal. 'Papatūānuku – the land', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 25-Sep-11
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/papatuanuku-the-land/5/3