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Tūhua (Mayor Island) (Place)
SummaryTūhua, also known as Mayor Island, is a volcanic island located 26 kilometres off the Bay of Plenty coast, and 35 kilometres from the Tauranga Harbour entrance.
Tūhua is the ancestral home of Te Urungawera, hapū of Te Whānau a Tauwhao (also known as Te Whānau A Tauwhao ki Tūhua), the last permanent inhabitants of the island. Tūhua is privately owned and is currently administered by the Tūhua Trust Board on behalf of its beneficiaries.
'Tūhua' is both the name for the island, as well as the Māori word for obsidian (a volcanic glass). The island is perhaps best known for its abundance of obsidian, as it possesses the largest deposits of obsidian in New Zealand. The name 'Tūhua' is also linked to one of the islands of Hawaiki. The secondary name 'Mayor Island' originates from the journals of Captain Cook, in which he dubbed the island "The Mayor".
The waters around Tūhua are popular for deep-sea fishing, and from 1953-1990 the island acted as a base for the Tauranga Big Game Fishing Club. Tūhua obtained wildlife sanctuary status in 1953, and a marine reserve was created off the northern end of the island in 1993.
SourcesBelich, J. (1996). Making Peoples: A History of New Zealanders From Polynesian Settlement to the End of the Nineteenth Century. Penguin Press. Pp. 54-55.McKinnon, M. 'Bay of Plenty places - Inshore islands', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Accessed 13 July 2024.'Tuhua (Mayor Island)'. Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai.Payne, Brett. (9 Oct, 2015). 'Tuhua, the rock and the island'. Tauranga Historical Society Blog. Retrieved 13 Aug, 2024.
Tūhua is the ancestral home of Te Urungawera, hapū of Te Whānau a Tauwhao (also known as Te Whānau A Tauwhao ki Tūhua), the last permanent inhabitants of the island. Tūhua is privately owned and is currently administered by the Tūhua Trust Board on behalf of its beneficiaries.
'Tūhua' is both the name for the island, as well as the Māori word for obsidian (a volcanic glass). The island is perhaps best known for its abundance of obsidian, as it possesses the largest deposits of obsidian in New Zealand. The name 'Tūhua' is also linked to one of the islands of Hawaiki. The secondary name 'Mayor Island' originates from the journals of Captain Cook, in which he dubbed the island "The Mayor".
The waters around Tūhua are popular for deep-sea fishing, and from 1953-1990 the island acted as a base for the Tauranga Big Game Fishing Club. Tūhua obtained wildlife sanctuary status in 1953, and a marine reserve was created off the northern end of the island in 1993.
SourcesBelich, J. (1996). Making Peoples: A History of New Zealanders From Polynesian Settlement to the End of the Nineteenth Century. Penguin Press. Pp. 54-55.McKinnon, M. 'Bay of Plenty places - Inshore islands', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Accessed 13 July 2024.'Tuhua (Mayor Island)'. Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai.Payne, Brett. (9 Oct, 2015). 'Tuhua, the rock and the island'. Tauranga Historical Society Blog. Retrieved 13 Aug, 2024.Usage
Kaitiakitanga StatementPlease use taonga Māori materials provided by Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries appropriately. This includes being respectful and mindful of the creator/s, as well as the mana and dignity of people, iwi and hapū group/s, and the environmental subjects depicted in the material.CopyrightTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries
CopyrightTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City LibrariesWhakapapa
Location
LocationBay of Plenty, New ZealandLatitude/Longitude[1]
Latitude/Longitude[1] Admin
AuthorTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City LibrariesType of ContributionLibrary authority
Type of ContributionLibrary authorityloading google map....
Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries, Tūhua (Mayor Island) (Place). Pae Korokī, accessed 12/07/2026, https://paekoroki.tauranga.govt.nz/nodes/view/108097
