Te Heuheu is the name of a line of Māori chiefs of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa iwi (tribe). The iwi traditionally lived near Lake Taupo on the North Island of New Zealand. The greatest of these chiefs included Mananui Te Heuheu Tūkino II (?-1846) and his brother Iwikau Te Heuheu Tūkino III (?-1862), both of whom were warriors and leaders of great power. On May 7, 1846, a landslide in Te Rapa killed Mananui and about 60 members of his iwi. Iwikau succeeded his brother as paramount chief.
When Iwikau died in 1862, Mananui’s son succeeded him and took the name Horonuku Te Heuheu Tūkino IV (?-1888). In 1887, Horonuku gave land south of Lake Taupo, including Mounts Ngauruhoe, Ruapehu, and Tongariro, as a gift to the people of New Zealand. He wanted the land, which was sacred to Māori, to be preserved as a national park. In 1894, the government passed the legislation to form Tongariro National Park, New Zealand’s first national park. Members of the Te Heuheu line continue to lead the Ngāti Tūwharetoa.
See also Mount Ngauruhoe ; Mount Ruapehu ; Mount Tongariro .
