Ko Mauao te Maunga, ko Tauranga te Moana. Mauao is the mountain, and Tauranga is the sea.
Full Mauao night closures - Friday 7 November 2025
Due to multiple fireworks breaches this week, Mauao will be closed overnight from 7pm–5am on Friday 7 November until the morning of Monday 10 November.
This is not a decision we’ve taken lightly. It’s necessary to protect the maunga and keep everyone safe. There is a permanent fire ban on Mauao, with fireworks and open flames strictly prohibited. Fireworks were let off again on Thursday night, despite Māori Wardens being onsite. With large numbers of people spread across the maunga, it was not possible to safely contain the activity.
We appreciate the public’s understanding and cooperation in respecting the closure.
Read more here.
The significance of Mauao
Renowned for its beautiful beaches and natural environment, Mount Maunganui is home to Mauao, one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most iconic landmarks. Mauao, which means caught by the dawn, is the sacred tūpuna maunga (ancestral mountain) of the three iwi of Tauranga Moana – Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Pūkenga and Ngāti Ranginui and Te Arawa iwi, Waitaha. Mauao historic reserve was returned to mana whenua in 2007.
With around one million visitors walking up or around Mauao each year, it’s vital that Mauao is protected, conserved, and appropriately enhanced as a taonga of exceptional cultural, spiritual, historic, and natural significance, while also providing for managed public access and use. Mauao is owned by local iwi and is jointly managed by the Mauao Trust and Tauranga City Council under the direction of the Ngā Poutiriao ō Mauao (the Mauao Joint Administration Board).
The legend of Mauao (33kb pdf)
Walking tracks on Mauao
Te Mahere Whakamahinga o Mauao (The Mauao Placemaking project)
As a means of celebrating the mana, identity and significance of Mauao, over the past year, new cultural touchpoints have been added to the maunga as part of Te Mahere Whakamahinga o Mauao (The Mauao Placemaking project) the project set out to share the rich history and purakau (stories) of Mauao for ahi kā (locals) and manuhiri (visitors).
New cultural touchpoints across the maunga include:
- new wayfinding and interpretation signage – sharing the ecological and cultural narrative of Mauao,
- new seating and resting areas providing the opportunity for our community to reflect and connect with this maunga,
- a cultural compass located at Te Tihi o Mauao (the summit of Mauao) identifying significant landmarks and islands that connect Mauao to Te Moana nui a Kiwa (Pacific Ocean),
- a viewing platform at Te Awaiti, funded by the Port of Tauranga. The viewing platform is located near the channel where the Takitimu waka landed.
- a total of five kōhatu whakairo (stone carvings) across the maunga which illustrate traditional legends and depict kōrero nehera (ancient stories). Each kōhatu represents different themes.
- new pouwhenua welcome visitors at the entrance ways to Mauao at Waikorire (Pilot Bay) and Hinekite Takutai (Main Beach) and additional pou can be found across the maunga at other places of significance.