tonymataaho

Mataaho


Do you believe that many thousands of years ago there lived a man called Mataaho and his wife. They lived on top of Maungawhau. Mataaho’s wife took care of Mataaho by giving him yummy food when he was hungry and he kept him warm as well.

Mataaho and his wife lived happily until one night he didn’t come home. Mataaho’s wife was FURIOUS! She packed her bags and left the crater of the mountain. The next night when Mataaho returned his wife was gone and when he felt cold there was nothing to keep him warm and when he felt hungry there was nobody there to feed him.

But one day mahuika the goddess of fire felt sad for Mataaho and lit him nine flames. Today the nine flames are the nine small volcano’s surrounding Maugawhau.

So for the rest of his life he was warm. Well….. As for the food, that’s another story.