 Pihanga appears to have a large crater, but this is in fact the result of erosion, and the "crater" quickly narrows into a steep gorge.In Maori mythology, Pīhanga was the female mountain whom Taranaki and Tongariro fought over, at a time when Taranaki was also located among the central North Island mountains.Tongariro's victory resulted in Taranaki's banishment to the west coast, with his movement creating features such as the Whanganui and Patea Rivers, and the Ngaere swamp.