Maungawhau: Mountain Stories and Legends
Exploring the rich history of Mount Eden Stories from tangata whenua Ancient pa and volcanic origins
What is Maungawhau?
Maungawhau means 'mountain of the whau tree' It's what we now call Mount Eden One of Auckland's 50 volcanic cones Created by volcanic activity about 28,000 years ago
Tangata Whenua of Maungawhau
Tangata whenua means 'people of the land' Māori lived on Maungawhau for hundreds of years The mountain provided safety and resources Ngāti Whātua were the main iwi (tribe) in this area
Spot the Terraces!
Look at this photo of Mount Eden Can you count the terraces? Why do you think Māori built them in steps? What advantages would living on a mountain give you?
Life on the Mountain
Families lived in whare (houses) on the terraces They grew kumara in gardens Storage pits kept food safe through winter Warriors kept watch for enemies approaching
A Mountain of Stories
'The mountain holds the memories of all who have walked upon it - from the first Māori families to the visitors of today'
.jpg)
The Basalt
Basalt is the dark volcanic rock from Maungawhau It was quarried (dug out) to build roads Much of Auckland's early roads used this rock The quarrying changed the shape of the mountain
Tom the Elephant: An Unusual Resident
{"left":"Tom was an elephant who lived near Mount Eden\nHe worked for a circus in the early 1900s\nTom helped move heavy basalt rocks from the quarry\nHe became famous around Auckland for his strength","right":"People would come to watch Tom work\nTom lived in a special enclosure near the mountain\nHe was fed hay and vegetables by his keepers\nHe was rewarded with candy and beer for his hard work"}
Maungawhau Today
People would come to watch Tom work Tom lived in a special enclosure near the mountain He was fed hay and vegetables by his keepers Tom's story shows how the mountain continued to change