Is it possible for a mountain to tell a story? Maungawhau / Mount Eden can. It is more than just Auckland’s highest natural point. It’s a window into the soul of this land.
Welcome to Maungawhau / Mount Eden. This scoria cone is a Tūpuna Maunga. This means ancestral mountain in Māori. It stands 196 meters tall offering 360-degree views of Auckland.
But Maungawhau / Mount Eden is more than just a viewpoint. It is a landmark with layers of history etched into its slopes. The name “Mount Eden” comes from Governor William Hobson. He named it after George Eden. George was the 1st Earl of Auckland. The Māori name Maungawhau means “mountain of the whau tree”.
28000 years ago, Maungawhau / Mount Eden was a very active volcano. It erupted from three craters. The southern crater was the last to erupt. It filled the northern craters. Look closely. You can still see the majestic bowl-like crater. It is 50 meters deep. The crater is named Te Upu Kai a Mataaho. This means “the bowl of Mataaho”. Mataaho was a deity. He guarded the secrets hidden in the earth.
For centuries, Tāmaki Māori settled the Auckland isthmus. Maungawhau was a principal pā. A pā is a defensive settlement. Huakaiwaka settled here. He was an ancestor of Waiohua. Waiohua lived here from the 17th century to around 1740. Maungawhau was terraced. Ditches defended four areas of the maunga.
In 1840, Ngāti Whātua gifted land to European settlers. This established Auckland. Maungawhau / Mount Eden was the southern point of this area.
An underground water reservoir was built on Maungawhau / Mount Eden in the 1880s. It was replaced in 1912. A second reservoir was added in 1929. In 1929, the reservoir wall collapsed. 800000 gallons of water and rock rushed down the mountain. This damaged properties. It also blocked Mt Eden Road.
Prison inmates quarried stone from Maungawhau / Mount Eden in the early 20th century. The stone was used for road projects. The trig station at the summit helped map Auckland’s suburbs. Prince Alfred’s elephant helped build the platform. The elephant got lollies, buns and beer as a reward.
In 2011, the summit road closed to most vehicles. This protects the maunga. The Tūpuna Maunga Authority now administers Maungawhau / Mount Eden.
In 2019, the tearoom became Whau Cafe. The Te Ipu Kōrero o Maungawhau / Mount Eden Visitor Experience Centre also opened. It showcases the maunga’s geological and Māori cultural history.
Boardwalks opened around the crater rim in 2020. They protect the pā tūāpapa and rua kūmara. Pā tūāpapa are terraces. Rua kūmara are kūmara storage pits. The boardwalks also offer spectacular views.
As you walk around Maungawhau / Mount Eden, remember its story. It is a story of volcanoes, Māori heritage and Auckland’s growth. This mountain is a taonga. A treasure for all to share. Take a moment to connect with the land. Feel the spirit of Maungawhau / Mount Eden. Let its story resonate within you.