The Story of Taranaki
This traditional story, known by many iwi in the Taranaki area, tells how Mount Taranaki was once called Pukeonaki and stood in the centre of the North Island, close to Mount Tongariro.
About this resource
Series: School Journal Level 2 August 2020
Reading year level: 4
Category: Fiction
Topics: ancestor, battle, culture, legend, love, Māori, mounga, mountain, myth, Ngauruhoe, story, Pihanga, Pukeonaki, Ruapehu, storytelling, tale, Taranaki, Tongariro, traditional story, volcano
The Story of Taranaki
Words by Hone Rata
Illustrations by Taupuruariki Whakataka Brightwell
The two mountains fought over Pihanga, a nearby mountain. Tongariro won and Pukeonaki left in anger and grief, travelling to his present position and forming the Whanganui River on the way. The people who came to live in the region later named him Taranaki.
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More from this series
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School Journal Level 2 August 2020
Inside this School Journal are two stories (The Story of Taranaki; Magō!), one article (Taranaki Views), and one poem (Come and Meet the Water Whānau).
1 of 4Come and Meet the Water Whānau
The poem takes the form of an invitation, with a series of headings and lists of single words or two words relating to those headings.
2 of 4Magō!
This is a humorous, entertaining story based on a true event.
3 of 4Taranaki Views
“Taranaki Views” is a lengthy article that offers a range of perspectives on Taranaki Mounga.
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