Long ago, in the Hautere forest overlooking Tauranga Moana, there were three mountains:

• Ōtanewainuku – still standing today, adorned with the tallest trees and home to beautiful birds.

• Pūwhenua – a female mountain, clothed in the finest ferns, shrubs, and forest trees of Tāne.

• A nameless mountain – a maunga pononga, who loved Pūwhenua dearly.

Sadly, Pūwhenua’s heart already belonged to Ōtanewainuku, leaving the nameless mountain with no hope. In despair, he decided to end his life by drowning in the Pacific Ocean, Te Moananui ā Kiwa.

He called upon the patupaiarehe, magical forest beings, to help. They plaited a magical rope and slowly hauled him toward the ocean. As they moved, they carved out the valley where the Waimapu River now flows – Waimapu meaning “weeping waters”. The channel created eventually flowed past Tauranga City out to the sea.

By the time they reached the ocean, it was almost daybreak. The rising sun fixed the nameless mountain to that place. The patupaiarehe, beings of the night, returned to the forests, leaving the mountain in the light of morning. They named him Mauao, meaning “caught by the morning light”, marking the entrance to Tauranga Moana.

This is the story of how Mauao received his name.