Mauao
The Mauao , also called Mount Maunganui or The Mount by the locals , is the remnant of an approximately 4.3 million year old volcanic cone on the North Island of New Zealand , located directly in the Bay of Plenty .
geography
The 231 m high mountain is located at the western end of the peninsula on which Mount Maunganui , a suburb of Tauranga , is located. With the opposite island of Matakana Island , the mountain forms the eastern entrance to Tauranga Harbor , a shallow water area separated from the South Pacific Ocean by Matakana Island . At the same time, the strait also provides access to the port of Tauranga and the shallow bays behind it.
geology
The mountain consists of the remains of a large lava dome that was formed around 4.3 million years ago by viscous, bulging rhyolite lava . The lava core is considerably weathered today. Evidence can still be found on the northern bank. Pyroclastic tephra deposits formed the lower reaches of the mountain approximately 65,000 years ago. The ash deposits come from volcanic eruptions in the areas of Okataina , Taupo , Maroa and Tuhua . The mountain, which was originally an island, was connected to the mainland via the peninsula about 6,000 years ago through sand deposits and the formation of dunes . The ash deposits on the peninsula from the volcanic eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1314 show that the peninsula in its current form was already formed when the Polynesians reached the area.
history
There were four significant events for Mount Mauao as a settlement area and for the region:
- the first human settlement in the region in the 13th century,
- the expulsion of the Ngamarama ,
- the Kokowai War (between 1625 and 1750), and
- the incursion of the Ngāpuhi into the Bay of Plenty region in the early 19th century.
The first archaeological investigations were carried out on the mountain in 1838 and proved the existence of a well-fortified Pā (village) on the plateau of the mountain, which was captured and destroyed as a village complex. The village was named Ranginui's Pā . In the late 1960s, archaeologists found and investigated a village further to the west, which was called Kinonui's Pā . As the last village and much larger in its dimensions, the so-called Maunganui Pā was found, which covered the summit plateau and the entire southern half of the mountain up to the two eastern beaches with around 100 acres. The village must have been well fortified and defendable by Māori standards.
Around 100 rectangular pits were also found in which the villagers had stored their food and harvest supplies. The numerous garbage pits, in which one could detect mussels , bone fragments, stones and remains of charcoal , were following records of missionaries from the 1830s, already dug by the first European settlers and the mussels were used for lime burning .
As a result of the Gate Pā War in 1863, the mountain was taken from the Māori and given to the state as property.
Todays use
The Mauao is regarded as an important tapu of the local tribes ( Iwi ) of the Māori , in whose mythology it plays an important role.
In the course of the return of land to the Māori , the New Zealand parliament decided on May 14, 2008 to give the property rights to the mountain back to the Iwi Ngāti Te Rangi , Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāti Pukenga .
Although the upper part of the mountain is protected as the Mauao Historic Reserve , there is a risk that the destruction of nature and surface structure will continue due to intensive use by recreation seekers and sports enthusiasts. In recent years there have been several fires on the mountain, which one tries to counter with reforestation programs and clear signs.
There are various circular routes and accesses to the summit plateau, which are used intensively by hikers and joggers, especially in the late afternoon hours. The good updrafts on the north flank of the mountain are also popular with paragliders .
The hot salt water spring at the foot of the mountain towards the peninsula has only been around since the 1950s. In search of fresh water to improve the drinking water supply of the rapidly growing community around Mount Maunganui, the 46 ° C hot spring was accidentally found during drilling . A pool area today offers the possibility of using this source.
See also
- Mount Maunganui - suburb of Tauranga
- Tauranga - city and district in which the mountain is located
literature
- Ken Phillips : Preliminary Archaeological Survey and Identification of Threats to Archaeological Resources - Mauao Historic Reserve - Tauranga . Ed .: Tauranga District Council, Archeology BOP . Whakatane August 2003 (English).
- Bruce Cunningham, Ken Musgrave, Lesley Staniland : The History of Mount Maunganui . Ed .: Mount Maunganui Borough Council . Tauranga 1989 (English).
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Eileen McSaveney, Simon Nathan : Geology - overview - Mt Maunganui . In: Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand . Ministry for Culture & Heritage , June 12, 2006, accessed December 11, 2018 .
- ↑ Cunningham, Musgrave, Staniland : The History of Mount Maunganui . 1989, p. 3 .
- ↑ Mike Houlahan : Iwi celebrate return of 'The Mount' . In: NZME. Publishing (Ed.): New Zealand Herald . May 15, 2008 (English, online [accessed December 11, 2018]).
Coordinates: 37 ° 38 ′ S , 176 ° 11 ′ E