Te Pane o Mataoho | Te Ara Pueru | Māngere Mountain

Ready for an adventure? Te Pane o Mataoho / Te Ara Pueru / Māngere Mountain invites you to experience one of the most incredible volcanic landscapes in southern Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland. This 105-metre-tall scoria cone erupted around 50,000 years ago, and today it stands as the largest and best-preserved volcano in the area, complete with a unique 12-metre conical mound at its heart. Despite some quarrying, it remains the largest and best-preserved of the volcanic features in the southern part of Auckland. 

The names of this tūpuna maunga (ancestral mountain) are full of history and meaning. Māngere refers to ‘idle breezes,’ Te Pane o Mataoho honours the Māori deity of volcanoes, and Te Ara Pueru marks a historic event that took place here long before European arrival. Once a thriving defensive pā (settlement), the maunga’s terraced slopes and food storage pits are still visible, offering a glimpse into its ancient past.

But there’s even more to explore! At the base of the mountain, the Tūpuna Maunga Authority has created a Whānau Ātea  a destination play space with a modern twist on Māori traditions. Enjoy a bookable hāngī pit (earth oven), a māra hūpara (traditional Māori playground), a ki-ō-rahi field, and a skatepark, this place has something for everyone.

If you’re keen to dive deeper into Māori history, the Māngere Mountain Education Centre offers guided walks, traditional gardens, and a living museum of Māori culture.

Come and discover the wonder of Te Pane o Mataoho / Te Ara Pueru / Māngere Mountain—where history, nature, and adventure await!