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Story: National parks

Tongariro National Park mountains

Tongariro National Park mountains

In 1887, Ngāti Tūwharetoa chief Horonuku Te Heuheu signed a deed with the Crown to safeguard the peaks of Tongariro (foreground), Ngāuruhoe (middle), and Ruapehu (back). He wanted these central North Island volcanoes included in a national park, to prevent them from being divided and sold. Tongariro National Park, the country’s first, was established in 1894.

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GNS Science

Reference: CN5312/14

by Lloyd Homer

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, National parks – National parks – the beginnings, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/14421/tongariro-national-park-mountains (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 August 2015.

Comments

Aaron
26 September 2017
Whanganui Iwi have an enduring and intrinsic relationship with their ancestral maunga, Ruapehu. The formation of the National Park, and the Crowns actions, particularly in resort to Ruapehu, remain a grievance for Whanganui Iwi.