The Rock Warriors

Many years ago the Patupaiarehe people lived around the lakes of Rotorua, on the Ngongotaha Mountains.

The Tipua people were giants and they were very bad tempered. These people wanted to take the beautiful lakes and the land away from the Patupaiarehe people.

One day the Tipua war party marched through the Mamaku forest towards Ngongotaha. The Patupaiarehe people became very scared. They asked their leader to save them with his magic spell.

Tongakohu went up Ngongongtaha mountain and lit a fire. He started to chant his magic spell.

Then the Tipua giants began to feel  tired and they had a rest. When they wanted to stand up their skin started to crack.They could not move. Soon all the Tipua giants turned into rocks.

Finally Tongakahu was able to save his people from the Tipua giants.