Mahangaatuamatua
Encyclopedia
Mahangaatuamatua is a canoe
mentioned in a letter by Uma-kau-oho-mata-kamokamo, a Māori chief from the Tauranga
district, New Zealand
, quoted in White (1887-1891). Claiming that this canoe did not bring any food plants to New Zealand because it was too sacred to carry such items, and was manned by priests and chiefs, Uma-kau-oho-mata-kamokamo said that Mahangaatuamatua was the first canoe to land in New Zealand, and that he or his people still possessed (the traditions relating to) the priests who built the canoe and the adzes that they used.
Waka (canoe)
Waka are Māori watercraft, usually canoes ranging in size from small, unornamented canoes used for fishing and river travel, to large decorated war canoes up to long...
mentioned in a letter by Uma-kau-oho-mata-kamokamo, a Māori chief from the Tauranga
Tauranga
Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand.It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963...
district, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, quoted in White (1887-1891). Claiming that this canoe did not bring any food plants to New Zealand because it was too sacred to carry such items, and was manned by priests and chiefs, Uma-kau-oho-mata-kamokamo said that Mahangaatuamatua was the first canoe to land in New Zealand, and that he or his people still possessed (the traditions relating to) the priests who built the canoe and the adzes that they used.