maxmataaho

Have you ever wondered why Auckland's landscape is filled with maunga mu. Well this Maori legend will explain it all. Read on.

Around about 150 thousand years ago there was a man and his name was Mataaho. He lived in Maungawhau crater with his wife. Every night he went hunting for kai and every time he returned and was welcomed with warmth and bed.

But one night he did not return from his hunt and his wife was furious and so upset that she packed her bags and left.

The next day he returned and was devastated that his wife had left him. Later that night he was cold, starving and lonely.

The goddess of ahi, Mahuika heard about him and took pity on him and gave him food and created fires to keep him warm.

Today if you are on top of Mount Eden and you look at the landscape, you can see the fires as volcanoes.