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Kōrero: Geology – overview

Mt Eden

Image
Mt Eden

Mt Eden (Maungawhau) is one of the most prominent volcanic cones remaining in the Auckland region. In the last of a number of eruptions about 15,000 years ago, three overlapping scoria cones became a single, huge scoria mound with a central crater. Lava flows extended out from the base of the mound, and in some places were more than 60 metres thick.

Maungawhau was a significant Māori , large enough to provide refuge for several hundred people.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

GNS Science

Reference: CN19029

by Lloyd Homer

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Eileen McSaveney rāua ko Simon Nathan, Geology – overview – Quaternary volcanism, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/8401/mt-eden (accessed 25 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Eileen McSaveney rāua ko Simon Nathan, i tāngia i te 2 March 2009.

Comments

Jeff Albom
09 November 2022
Hi all, I believe there is additional evidence to show that Maungawhau eruptions occurred 28,000 years ago in contradiction to the 15,000 you have in this article. See https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/120891499/ancient-tree-proves-aucklands-maungawhaumt-eden-erupted-28000-years-ago for this reference