In MÃÂori tradition, MÃÂhuhu-ki-te-rangi (also known as MÃÂhuhu) was one of the great ocean-going, voyaging canoes that was used in the migrations that settled New Zealand.
According to MÃÂori traditions, the waka MÃÂhuhu-ki-te-rangi explored the upper reaches of the North Island north of the Kaipara Harbour during early MÃÂori settlement of New Zealand. Its crew explored Whangaroa, TÃÂkou and Whangaruru. They continued south before returning to PÃÂrengarenga and sailing down the west coast.
On the west coast there are two narratives of the captaincy of MÃÂhuhu. Te Roroa people of the Waipoua forest say the MÃÂhuhu canoe was captained by Whakatau and called at Kawerua on the west coast of the North Island where Whakatau's son married a local. The alternative narrative, told by the Te Uri-o-Hau and Te Taoà « (from the NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua tribe of Helensville and Auckland) has MÃÂhuhu under the command of Rongomai and stopping not at Kawerua but TÃÂporapora Island in the Kaipara Harbour (this island no longer exists). Rongomai was drowned when the canoe overturned after visiting the island and his body was eaten by the araara or trevally fish. Because of this incident, the NgàPuhi and Te Rarawa iwi who claim descent from Rongomai, did not dare to eat the trevally in the times before they embraced Christianity. The tradition then tells of MÃÂhuhu heading back north to Rangaunu Harbour where the crew eventually settled. At the end of its service the waka was interred in a creek, Te Waipopo-o-MÃÂhuhu in the Rangaunu Harbour.
As part of the 1990 commemorations of the 1840 signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua made a large waka which also bears the name MÃÂhuhu-ki-te-rangi or MÃÂhuhu-o-te-rangi.