The entire island is surrounded by a fringing reef, pierced by six passages, and sits atop an extinct volcano rising 4,500 m (14,800 ft) from the ocean floor.

Another legend states a son of Ruatapu was murdered on Mauke, and in retaliation he killed many of the islands inhabitants.

[3] The next European to sight Mauke was John Williams of the London Missionary Society, in 1823.

[3] In the 1840s an Atiuian expedition attempted to raid the island again, but retreated after hearing that the Maukeans had been supplied with muskets by a European trader.

In 1904, animosity between followers of the London Missionary Society and the newly introduced Roman Catholic church led to the formation of the village of Kimiangatau on Mauke's coast.

[10] Mauke's economy is primarily government-supported, with 61% of the labour force employed in the public sector.