Maunga Manu (ˈmaʊŋa ˈmanu)

Maunga Manu is an extinct volcano and the highest point on the island of Kautea. It is best known for the thousands of birds that live on its forested slopes. The name translates roughly as "Bird Mountain", and there are dozens of species of birds that call it home.

Notable Spirits

The Atua of Maunga Manu is known as Hauwhē Manu, which some might translate as "Birdsong". He is the lord of birds and of the skies over Kautea. He is one of the most knowledgeable of all the Atua, for the birds bring him news from all around the great ring, and the winds whisper to him anything the birds did not know. The birds of the mountain are sacred to him, and if you kill a bird while upon the slopes of Maunga Manu, Hauwhē Manu will turn you into one to take its place. This prohibition extends even to the animals that live in the forests, and none will harm a bird there if they can help it.

Geography

Maunga Manu is located near the center of Kautea, and commands views of the entire island, as well as across the harbor to Tauranga. Ascending the mountain is fairly simple, as long as the climber is permitted to walk through Te Whārua o Ngā Hau Manu, a canyon known for its high winds, large population of birds, and strange acoustics. The entrance to the canyon is guarded by a tohungatua of Hauwhē Manu who can choose who is permitted to enter and who will be denied.

The most common visitors are pilgrims seeking to ask Hauwhē Manu a question, and these are usually permitted to pass through the canyon. Those who offer violence to the tohungatua are permitted to enter the canyon, but never leave it again; not even their bones are ever recovered.

Beyond the canyon, wooden stairs have been erected to ease the path of those who would climb to the summit. Birds line the path, watching all who come and go, and as one approaches the top of Maunga Manu, their song begins to resolve into intelligible speech. At the top of the mountain, all of the birds can talk so that others can understand them. Those most favored by the Atua may even retain the ability to understand bird speech when they leave, and carry the gift for the rest of their days.

Type

Volcano

Location under

Kautea

Geographic Details

Location: Southern Region
Latitude: 0.03 degrees South
Longitude: 0.08 degrees West
Average Elevation: 2,037 ft