Maungawhau-Mt Eden

Introduction | History | Management plan | Conservation plan

Introduction

Maungawhau-Mt Eden is an important feature of the Auckland landscape and Auckland City Council is committed to ensuring that the volcano is protected for future generations to enjoy.

The Maungawhau - Mt Eden Management Plan (2007) and the conservation plan set out policies and objectives for managing the volcano.

The management plan seeks to enhance the visitor experience of Maungawhau - Mt Eden, enabling people to discover the significance of the site and enjoy a safe recreational environment in a manner consistent with the preservation of the reserve's heritage values.

The conservation plan seeks to identify the heritage features of the volanco and outline a policy approach to retain and enhance those values.

History

Maungawhau/Mount Eden is the highest of the volcanoes in Auckland city at 196 metres.

It is a prominent feature of the Auckland landscape and a good vantage point from which to view the city and the other cones.

The Maori name for the mountain, "Maungawhau", means "Mountain of the Whau tree". Whau (entelea arborescens) is a small tree which occurs in coastal forests. During the period of Maori inhabitation, the lower slopes of Maungawhau were used as gardens and living terraces. Early Maori and European activity has already drastically altered the form of Maungawhau, and what remains is a precious tangible record of Maori history. One significant feature is the large, well preserved crater, some 50 metres deep, contained within the summit cone.

The Mount Eden Domain is protected from damage, as an archaeological site, by the Historic Places Act 1980.

At the base of the mountain, on the northeast side, there is a substantial area of native bush. A remnant of this bush still exists on the lava flow in the Almorah Road, Epsom area. Today this bush is composed of

karaka corynocarpus)
kohekohe (dysoxylum)
mahoe (melicytus)
ngaio (myoporum)
pigeonwood (hedycarya)
puriri (vitex)
titoki (alectryon)
mangaeo (litsea)
karamu (coprosma)
rangiora (brachyglottis)
whau (entelea).

It is likely that some of these species may have been planted by the Maori inhabitants of Maungawhau. Both karaka and puriri trees are often found in association with village sites. Conifers are not found on this lava flow, but may have been present on the adjoining soils of Newmarket, if its Maori name "Okoare" (place where the young kauri grows) is a reflection of the vegetation present.

Management plan

The Reserves Act 1977 requires that the council has a management plan for Maungawhau Mt Eden outlining the city's intentions for the use, development and maintenance of reserve land.

The council undertook to review the management plan for Maungawhau Mt Eden in 2004. We consulted with the public and key stakeholders for nearly two years and council endorsed a final management plan in December 2006.

The management plan sets out a comprehensive list of policies for the management of the physical landscape; erosion; visitor experience; buildings and structures on the mountain; and leases, licences and permits.

The key objectives of the management plan are:

to respect and conserve the archaeological, geological and Maori heritage values of the reserve
to value and protect the ecological, landscape and European heritage values of the reserve
to permit free use of the reserve for appropriate recreational pursuits
to allow for the development of facilities to educate visitors on the significance of the reserve
to provide for the use, enjoyment, protection and maintenance of the recreation reserve in a manner consistent with other objectives
to facilitate change in the use and presentation of the reserve to support the objectives above.

The council is now focusing on four key areas as part of the management plan. These are:

Landscape

Our aim is to:

enhance and restore native habitats for birds, lizards and ferns
use low growing native grasses on archaeological features
protect the crater by discouraging access
actively manage the risk from fire.

Erosion

Our aim is to:

monitor damage as it occurs
restore and replant damaged areas
reduce the grazing of cattle
reroute certain tracks

Visitor experience

Our aim is to:

develop a visitor's centre
make the summit pedestrian access only
provide alternative transport to the summit
improve walking tracks, signs and furniture
collect information about how people use the reserve

Operational

Our aim is to:

manage permits and leases in way that protects the heritage of the site
develop and manage relationships with key stakeholders, including neighbours, volunteers, local community and tangata Whenua
improve integration between planning and on-ground management.

View the Maungawhau Mt Eden management plan

Conservation plan

The conservation plan seeks to identify the heritage features and values of the mountain and to outline a policy approach to retain and enhance those values. It focuses on archaeology, geology, vegetation ecology and both Maori and European associations with the mountain.

The plan also includes the histories of Ngati Whatua o Orakei and Ngati Maru, as both iwi have significant historical relations with the mountain as a cultural and spiritual entity.

Updated September 2010