Mount Hikurangi, Gisborne
Encyclopedia
Mount Hikurangi is a 1754 metre (5755 feet) peak in the northeastern corner of New Zealand
's North Island
, 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) southwest of East Cape
. It is the North Island's highest non-volcanic peak.
The peak is sacred to the Ngati Porou
Māori of the region, who regard it as the resting place of Nukutaimemeha, the waka
(canoe) of the legendary hero Maui
.
and Tonga
are to the east. In summer, however, because of the tilt of the Earth's axis, it does receive the sun's rays earlier than these places. It does not receive them earlier than the Chatham Islands
(or, of course, Antarctica), however, and in mid-summer, some of the hills of the southeastern South Island
receive the sun fractionally earlier. This did not stop the mountain gaining world prominence in the celebrations for the new Millennium, however.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
, 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) southwest of East Cape
East Cape
East Cape is the easternmost point of the main islands of New Zealand. It is located to the north of Gisborne in the northeast of the North Island....
. It is the North Island's highest non-volcanic peak.
The peak is sacred to the Ngati Porou
Ngati Porou
Ngāti Porou is a Māori iwi traditionally located in the East Cape and Gisborne regions of the North Island of New Zealand. Ngāti Porou has the second-largest affiliation of any iwi in New Zealand, with 71,910 registered members in 2006...
Māori of the region, who regard it as the resting place of Nukutaimemeha, the waka
Waka (canoe)
Waka are Māori watercraft, usually canoes ranging in size from small, unornamented canoes used for fishing and river travel, to large decorated war canoes up to long...
(canoe) of the legendary hero Maui
Maui (Maori mythology)
In Māori mythology, Māui is a culture hero famous for his exploits and his trickery.-Māui's birth:The offspring of Tū increased and multiplied and did not know death until the generation of Māui-tikitiki . Māui is the son of Taranga, the wife of Makeatutara...
.
The first sunrise of the new day
The peak is traditionally regarded as the first land in the world to catch the rays of the new day's sun, although this claim, like any such claim of its type, is open to interpretation. Certainly it is not true at any time of the year other than the southern hemisphere summer, as both FijiFiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
and Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
are to the east. In summer, however, because of the tilt of the Earth's axis, it does receive the sun's rays earlier than these places. It does not receive them earlier than the Chatham Islands
Chatham Islands
The Chatham Islands are an archipelago and New Zealand territory in the Pacific Ocean consisting of about ten islands within a radius, the largest of which are Chatham Island and Pitt Island. Their name in the indigenous language, Moriori, means Misty Sun...
(or, of course, Antarctica), however, and in mid-summer, some of the hills of the southeastern South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
receive the sun fractionally earlier. This did not stop the mountain gaining world prominence in the celebrations for the new Millennium, however.