The Love Story:

Pihanga was the adored by all the mountains but it was Tongariro who won her heart. There was a fierce battle on the central plains between the great Taranaki and the beloved Tongariro. Taranaki was defeated and was made to retreat to the west coast where he still watches Pihanga longingly.

Flora:

The flora designs are of natives within the Central Plateau area: Beech, White sun orchids & Mountain Daisy.

Kowhaiwhai Design: (In red) Nga Maunga (The Mountains) a design I have created to depict mountains. It represents all the mountains of Aotearoa and the link we have to them.

Background Text:

Ngati Tuwharetoa are one of the local tribes in the central North of whom trace their origins to the Te Arawa canoe.

New Zealand was named by the Maori when they arrived “Aotearoa” two translations of this are “Land of the long white cloud and “Land of the long daylight” The Polynesians had traveled directly from what is called the Southern Group of islands which includes Tahiti and the Marquesas.