Our Location

Our business is located in Mount Maunganui on the north east coast of Aotearoa (New Zealand) in the Bay of Plenty. The maunga (mountain), which the town is named after, is also known as Mauao.

Our boats are berthed and fish from the Port of Tauranga, the largest Port in New Zealand.

Legend of Mauao

Mauao stands at the eastern entrance of the Tauranga harbour. According to legend it was a nameless mountain overshadowed by larger peaks in the Hautere forest. The nameless one fell in love with a beautiful mountain, Pūwhenua, however her heart already belonged to Ōtanewainuku.

In anguish the nameless one cried out to the patupaiarehe (fairy-like creatures) of the forest to drag him into the ocean so he could end his pain. As they neared the water’s edge the first rays of dawn sent the patupaiarehe fleeing because light would mean death for them.

The nameless one became transfixed by the morning light and was given the name Mauao, as he had been caught (mau) in the light of day (ao). Today Mauao is popularly known as Mount Maunganui.

Te Kuia Rock

At the mouth of the harbour entrance are two rocks – a kuia (old woman) and kurī (dog). Ruahine was a kuia who yearned for her homeland of Hawaiki. Each day she would climb Mauao with her kurī and look at the horizon, thinking of Hawaiki.

One day she saw a waka taua (war canoe) approaching. Ruahine scrambled down the slopes to warn her people but slipped and fell to her death. Her loyal kurī jumped down the slopes and also died. Ruahine and her kurī were transformed into the rocks seen at the entrance today.

In remembrance of Ruahine and her kurī, fishermen will often throw a small offering of food toward the rocks as they depart the harbour.

Tangaroa

In the Tauranga harbour is a statue of Tangaroa, the Māori God of the Sea, who protects the sea and all its inhabitants. Tangaroa was the son of Rangi (Sky Father) and Papatuanuku (the Earth Mother).