Ngātoroirangi was a tohunga who arrived in New Zealand on the Te Arawa canoe. He explored inland and arrived at Mt Tongariro. Because of the intense cold he called for help from his sisters, exclaiming that he was seized (riro) by the extreme cold (tonga) – hence the mountain’s name. His sisters sent him fire, which burst out at a number of places now recognised as geothermal areas.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
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