Auckland's Volcanoes and Their Māori Names
Most of Auckland's volcanoes carry two names, a Māori name and an English one, and many now use both officially. Maungawhau is Mount Eden, Maungakiekie is One Tree Hill, and Takarunga is Mount Victoria.
Why do Auckland's volcanoes have two names?
Because they were named twice, by different peoples. The maunga carried Māori names for centuries before European settlement, names tied to ancestors, events and the land. British settlers then gave them English names, often after people back home. Both sets stuck, and today many of the cones are officially dual-named, with the Māori name increasingly leading. The English names are still what a lot of search traffic uses, which is why you see both.
The key names and what they mean
The main cones each have a meaning behind the Māori name. Maungawhau (Mount Eden) means the mountain of the whau tree. Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill) refers to the kiekie vine. Takarunga (Mount Victoria) means the hill standing above. Maungauika is North Head, and Te Pane o Mataaoho is Māngere Mountain. The names are descriptive and rooted in the land, not arbitrary labels.
Why the Māori names are returning
As part of a wider restoration of te reo Māori and recognition of mana whenua. Treaty settlements returned many of the tūpuna maunga to Māori ownership under co-governance, and official use of the Māori names has grown alongside that. You now see dual names on signs, maps and in everyday speech, with the maunga increasingly known first by the names they held long before Auckland existed.
How to pronounce them
Māori is consistent once you know the vowels, so the names are easier than they look. Maungawhau is roughly Mow-nga-fow, Maungakiekie is Mow-nga-kee-eh-kee-eh, and Takarunga is Tah-kah-roong-ah. The wh in Māori is usually said like an f. Taking care with the pronunciation is a small mark of respect for places that carry a lot of history.
Know the names and the stories
Volcanic AKL carries the Māori and English names, meanings and history for every cone in the field. Works offline on the maunga.
Explore Volcanic AKLRelated: What are the tūpuna maunga?