Maungawhau

Maungawhau
Mount Eden

Looking into and over the crater.
Elevation 196 m (643 ft)
Location
Location Auckland, North Island, New Zealand
Range Auckland Volcanic Field
Coordinates Coordinates: 36°52′37″S 174°45′50″E / 36.877°S 174.764°E
Geology
Volcanic arc/belt Auckland volcanic field

Maungawhau / Mount Eden is a scoria cone in the Mount Eden suburb of Auckland, New Zealand.

Geography

The cone is a dormant volcano and its summit, at 196 metres (643 ft) above sea level, is the highest natural point on the Auckland isthmus. The majestic bowl-like crater is 50 metres (160 ft) deep. The volcano erupted from two craters 28,000 years ago, with the last eruptions from the southern crater filling the northern crater.[1][2] The Western face of the hill was extensively quarried. This is the site of a large ecological restoration project run by volunteers.[3]

Naming

Maungawhau means the 'Mountain of the Whau tree' in Māori). 'Mount Eden' honours George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland. The crater is called Te Ipu-a-Mataaho (the bowl of Mataaho). Mataaho was deity who lived in the crater and was the gauardian of the secrets hidden in the earth.[4][5]

Tourism

Terraces on the southern slopes of Maungawhau / Mount Eden

Maungawhau / Mount Eden sees strong tourism use, as it is the highest non-manmade point in Auckland, and provides good views in all directions over the city. There used to be a large number of tourist buses driving to the summit but these were banned in 2011. The maunga authority agreed to a ban on all vehicles driving to the summit in 2015, but provision will be made for people with limited mobility.[6][7]

Other uses

From the 1950s the peak was used by the New Zealand Post Office for VHF radio communications in two buildings, several hundred metres apart, each with their own antenna farm. One building housed transmitting equipment, while the other housed receiving equipment. In the 1960s the site was staffed during the five-day working week due to the large number of valves that wore out under the stress of high power and needed frequent servicing. Typical use of the facility was for businesses e.g. taxi or delivery firms needing mobile communications to vehicles.

An underground water reservoir has been located on the northern side of Maungawhau / Mount Eden since the 1870s. The original reservoir was replaced in 1912, and a second, complementary, reservoir added in 1930. The reservoirs, recently upgraded to meet growing demand, work together to supply the Mount Eden, Epsom, One Tree Hill and Khyber Pass areas.

The trig station at the summit was used as a reference point for drawing up Auckland's suburbs. The platform was built with help from Prince Alfred's elephant. The elephant was rewarded with lollies, buns and beer.[8]

Treaty settlement

In the 2014 Treaty of Waitangi settlement with the Tamaki Makaurau Collective of 13 Auckland iwi, the volcano was officially named Maungawhau / Mount Eden and ownership was vested to the collective. It is now co-governed by the collective and Auckland Council in common benefit of the iwi "and all other people of Auckland".[9][10][11][12][13][14]

Panorama of Maungawhau / Mount Eden Crater

References

  1. ↑ Richard Smith; David J. Lowe; Ian Wright (5 November 2007). "Volcanoes — Mt Eden". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
  2. ↑ "Chronology of Events". Maungawhau-Mt Eden Management Plan (PDF) (Report). Auckland City Council. February 2007. p. 70. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
  3. ↑ "Batger Quarry Restoration Project". Friends of Maungawhau. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Maungawhau". Te Ara. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  5. ↑ "Mataaho". Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "Car ban planned for volcanic cone". Radio New Zealand. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  7. ↑ "The Maunga Authority agreed to stop cars driving to the summit of Maungawhau". Te Kāea (Māori Television). 21 April 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  8. ↑ McFadden, Suzanne. "Auckland's 175th anniversary: Volcanoes, elephant built the city". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  9. ↑ Dearnaley, Mathew (27 September 2014). "Volcanic cones regain Maori names". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  10. ↑ "Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Act 2014". New Zealand Legislation. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  11. ↑ "Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Act 2014 registration guideline" (PDF). Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  12. ↑ "NZGB decisions - September 2014". Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  13. ↑ "Protection of tupuna maunga assured under ownership transfer". Auckland Council. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  14. ↑ "New governance structure for treasured tūpuna maunga". Auckland Council. Retrieved 25 October 2014.

External links