Te Kauwae-a-Māui quite literally translates as ‘the jaw of Māui’ in reference to the jawbone of Murirangawhenua, his grandmother, that Māui used to fashion his fish-hook, Te Matau-a-Māui. It’s located in an area that was subsequently named by Captain James Cook as ‘Cape Kidnappers’ having mistakenly misinterpreted a rescue endeavour by local Māori of Tiata, a young Polynesian boy on his ship, as kidnapping. It was an act clearly mis-interpreted with tragic results.
Today the local Māori community, wider community, land owners, philanthropists and local government are working together to restore ‘The Cape’ environment with planting programmes, a well interpreted coastal walkway and a predator proof sanctuary where former endemic species of birds and plants are being reintroduced.
Te-Kauwae-a-Māui
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Visiting Info
Te-Kauwae-a-Māui, Cape Kidnappers, is visible from the interior coastline of the Bay and accessible by road and overland tours. The area has a long and significant history of Māori settlement and conflict. The current kaitiaki, cultural guardians of the area, can be contacted through Matahiwi Marae on Lawn Road half way between Clive and Te Awanga and close links are also held with Waimārama Marae.
There are bookable tours available of the Cape and Gannet Colony and it is home to a predator proof sanctuary.
