Hinemihi's Track. Mt Pihanga. New Zealand.
S 39° 00.300 E 175° 44.750
60H E 391405 N 5681920
Hinemihi's Track on Te Ponanga Saddle near Mt Pihanga was part of an early Pre-European Maori trail across the Central Plateau from Wanganui to Taupo.
Waymark Code: WM75B0
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 09/03/2009
Views: 5
Hinemihi's Track begins from a small picnic area near Te Ponanga Saddle, on State Highway 47 between Turangi and Rotoaira.
This loop track through kamahi and rimu forest follows part of the old route once used by the Maori travelling between the Taupo basin and the Whanganui River.
This track is part of a historical trail that was used by the Maori as the connecting route between Tokaanu and Rotoaira. It was also used as a war trail between Taupo and the King Country. Te Kooti used it in the battle with Government forces. Europeans used the original track and up to 1918 it was still in use as a pack horse trail. It was even used to bring cream over to the Waihi dairy factory. The original trail has now been sealed off at the bottom end to form the present loop track through magnificent stands of native timber.
Legends tell the story that a Maori chieftainess named Hinearo went from Opepe Pa on the shores of Lake Taupo to Whakatane, her former home, and took with her a gift of preserved pigeons for her brother Tuhereua. However her younger sister Hinimihi opened the containers and ate some before they could be given to Tuhereua. Naturally he was angry with Hinimihi and said that if she loved pigeons so much she should go to Taupo and marry Tuteawha. Hinimihi travelled back to Opepe Pa with her sister Hinearo and asked where she could find Tuteawha. The people of Opepe escorted her to Rotoaira where Tuteawha lived. At the top of the track on Ponanga Saddle they dressed her in her finest mat and anointed her with perfume made from native grasses. As Hinimihi walked down the track she scattered more of the perfumed grass around her giving rise to the true name of the track of Te Ponanga o te hei o Hinimihi. Hinimihi did marry Tuteawha of Rotoaira and one of their sons became the chief, Te Rangiita.
Feature Discription: Hinemihi's track, is now a loop track through a particularly lush and beautiful piece of native bush on the flank of Pihanga mountain.
Web address for the route: [Web Link]
Secondary Web Address: [Web Link]
Beginning of the road: Part of old Maori trail from Wanganui to Taupo
End of the road: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
We ask that if you visit the site, please include a unique picture with your impressions of the location. If possible, and if you are not too shy, please include yourself and your group in the photo. Extra points will be given for your best buffalo imitation or if you are licking something salty.