Engagement Program 2024

This year’s engagement story is: Ko Rangitoto Raua ko Tuki-Ata

KO RANGITOTO RAUA KO TUKI-ATA

Artist: Peter Hobbs + Huia Hamon

As told by a Ngāti Whātua Kaumatua.

Today Rūaumoko is seen as the god of the underworld, kaitiaki of earthquakes, hot springs and volcanoes and it is the latter that is of direct interest to this area, as it is held that Mata-aho and Rūaumoko together created the volcanic cones of Tāmaki Makaurau.

Rangitoto is one of the youngest of these Maunga and from the chronicles of Maui we find Mahu-ika the goddess of fire whose participation in the creation of Rangitoto is directly due to tikanga indiscretions of a couple, while residing on Te Rua Maunga, a volcanic cone which once stood on the footprint of what is now Pupuke Moana.

One day Mata-kamo-kamo also known as Mata-huripo asked his wife Mata-kerepō and their slave maiden Tuki-ata to weave him some new kakahu/garments resulting in a bitter argument and when their house fire went out and it could not be rekindled. Mata-kamo-kamo cursed Mahu-ika mentioned above, which did not please her…