Mount Edgecumbe/Putauaki

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For other mountains named Edgecumbe, see Mount Edgecumbe.

Mount Edgecumbe or Putauaki is an extinct volcanic cone in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand 50 km east of Rotorua and three km east of Kawerau. It was named by Captain James Cook in October 1769 after Sergeant Edgecombe who was the sergeant of marines on his vessel, the Endeavour.

The mountain rises to 820 m above sea level, and is visible from the waters of the bay, 30 km to the north. Every year a King of the Mountain race is run on Mt Edgecumbe as part of the international King of the Mountain series, and proceeds are donated to charity.

Māori legend tells of a love affair that Putauaki had with Whakaari/White Island. The affair turned bad when she took another lover, Mount Tarawera, and so Putauaki cast her out to the sea. Standing beside Putauaki is another, much smaller mountain, said to be their son.

Another version of the legend is that Putauaki was lonely after losing a fight for Pihanga (another mountain) so when he met Tarawera he decided to start a relationship with her. After raising a son and years of a troubled marriage, Putauaki cast his eye out towards the sea, where the very beautiful Whakaari was. The two would call out to each other at night while Tarawera slept. One night Putauaki could not contain his love any longer and decided to travel out to be with Whakaari. It is said that a mountain can only move once in their life and only at night so Putauaki had to travel across the land fast. Little did he know, his son had awoken and was following him. He heard the little whimper from his son and turned around. He tried to tell his son to stay with Tarawera but the little mountain would not leave his father. Then the sun rose and froze the two mountains where they were. When Tarawera awoke she saw that her husband had left and she started to weep, thus creating the Tarawera Falls and river. Until this day Tarawera still cries and Whakaari still calls out for her lover, who is frozen to the spot near Kawerau.