Nga Maunga (The Mountains)

There are two mountains represented on the poupou, one on each of the pou. On the 'east' side is Puwheke. This maunga stands at the entrance of Rungaunu Harbour on the Karikari Peninsula. If you look at Puwheke, the ridges look like the arms of a wheke [octopus]. Puwheke is now more commonly pronounced Puheke.

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On the 'western' pou is another mountain called Hukatere. It is about 15 kilometres north of Waipapakauri Ramp on the shores of Te Oneroa A Tohe [The long beach of Tohe ] more commonly known as 90 Mile Beach. Huka means foam and tere is drift or float in English, hence the name; Hukatere.

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Both Maunga are prominent features of Te Hiku O Te Ika [The tail of the Fish]. They would've served as ideal lookout positions in the past.