Does te mata peak mean sleeping maori?

Answer 1

No, it doesn't. Literally it means The Face. In relation to Te Mata Peak in Hawkes Bay, it is a shortened form of Te Mata o Rongokako, which is a personal name. In legend, Te Mata o Rongokako was a chieftain of the Waimārama tribe, a giant of a man, and would wage war on the tribes of Heretaunga. They schemed to bring peace by arranging his marriage to Hinerākau, the daughter of another cheiftain, of Pakipaki. He fell in love with her and in order to win her as a bride he was set the challenge to eat his way through the mountain range between Waimārama and Heretaunga so the people could pass freely. He choked on a large bite of the range and died there, and both the bite out of the hills and his body lying in profile are seen in the shape of the mountain range. So no, it does not mean 'sleeping Maori', it is simply the name of a legendary figure inspired by the shape of the land, who in the legend dies, rather than sleeps. Incidentally, when Europeans arrived in NZ they also thought it looked like sleeping man and called it the 'sleeping giant'. Apparently whoever told you Te Mata means 'sleeping Maori' is getting their stories completely mixed up.

Answer 2

No, "Te Mata Peak" is a prominent hill near Hastings in New Zealand. It is a popular spot for hiking and offers panoramic views of the surrounding area. It does not have any association with the term "sleeping Maori."

Answer 3

Yes it does