Discovering Ōwairaka / Mount Albert
Located in the southwestern Auckland suburb of Ōwairaka / Mount Albert, this 120,000-year-old volcanic maunga stands 135 metres high. It is one of the 14 Tūpuna Maunga of Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau. An engaging loop track circles a ridge left from the quarry and crosses the peak, offering impressive 360-degree views of Auckland.
In addition to the tracks and views, this maunga has a rich tapestry of Māori history and culture, making it a fascinating destination for those interested in New Zealand's heritage.
Māori Heritage
The Māori name Ōwairaka translates to "Place of Wairaka". Wairaka was the daughter of Toroa, the commander of the waka Mātaatua, which voyaged to Aotearoa, probably around 700 years ago. The Statue of Wairaka at Whakatāne Heads commemorates her courageous actions in saving the waka from drifting away while moored in the area.
After living around Whakatāne for some time, Wairaka moved to Tāmaki Makaurau and established a pā at Ōwairaka, hence the name. Some have suggested that the name Ōwairaka may have originated from the wetlands around Oakley Creek, but the story of Wairaka remains our favourite.
The maunga is also known as Te Ahi-kā-a-Rakataura, meaning "the long-burning fires of Rakataura", referring to its occupation by Tainui explorer Rakatāura.
Ōwairaka / Mount Albert is also known to have had a prominent pā, established by the Waihoua Confederation in the 1700s. The site was largely abandoned after conflicts with Ngāti Whātua in the mid-1700s. In 1841, the government purchased the maunga and surrounding lands from Ngāti Whātua, subdividing it into small farms.
Impact of Quarrying
Following its sales, the maunga was extensively quarried for scoria rock, reducing its height by 15 metres and its mass by half. Originally, there were two craters; one was flattened into playing fields in the early 1900s, and the other had a water tank added in the 1940s. Quarrying ceased in 1928 when it was realised that the defensive trenches from its time as a pā were of historical value, in part because they had influenced trench designs in WWI. The former quarry site now hosts an archery range.
Flora and Conservation Efforts
Exotic trees planted around the maunga have become a local political issue. The Tūpuna Maunga Authority plans to replace 350 mature exotic trees with native plantings. Until then, these trees are particularly striking during the golden hour in autumn.
How to Get There
The best access to Ōwairaka / Mount Albert is from Summit Drive, off Mount Albert Road, where parking is available near the base. The access road on the maunga is closed to cars, but there is foot access from several suburban side streets. Driving from Downtown Auckland is about 8 km and takes around 20 minutes.
Other maunga to visit around the central part of Auckland include Pukekawa / Auckland Domain, Maungakiekie / Cornwall Park, Maungawhau / Mt Eden and Maungarei / Mt Wellington.
