How many cones formed Maungawhau-Mt Eden?

Some archaeologists and geologists have suggested that Maungawhau consists of three or four overlapping scoria cones. New research by geologists Bruce Hayward and Garry Carr points to a different conclusion. 

 
Join Dr Hayward's guided tour on Love Your Mountain Day, Sunday 8 December, to find out more. Gather at the visitor centre (old kiosk) on Maungawhau for a 12:30pm start. Full programme here.

Butterfly release on Love Your Mountain Day

Last year was perfect weather for the butterfly release on Love Your Mountain Day. This year the recent heavy rain may have put a damper on our plans.

But fingers crossed! Jacqui Knight, trustee and secretary of the Monarch Butterfly New Zealand Trust, will be on hand and the release of Red Admiral and Monarch butterflies in the grounds of Government House will go ahead at 12pm if possible.

Rob Jones, butterfly enthusiast and chair of Forest & Bird, Auckland Central Branch, hopes to be there too. Jacqui and Rob will talk about their efforrts to save the Red and Yellow Admirals, and how you can help - by getting rid of wasps and by planting stinging nettles which the butterflies depend on for their survival.

Photo essay competition winners announced

The winners of our photo essay competition for school-age students, Loving Our Maunga, are Antonio Montero and Stella Fish. Both are students at Auckland Normal Intermediate.

Entries were judged anonymously by photographer Judith Holtebrinck, who is the manager of the Mt Eden Village Centre and the coordinator of the Mount Eden Village People.

Judith made these general comments:

"A great variation of entries showing the maunga and activities around it from different perspectives. All contestants deserve a prize for their wonderful work and effort."

First-prize winner Antonio will have his photo essay formatted and printed as an A0-size poster on Ilford Galerie Prestige 310gsm paper by The Digital Darkroom.

Stella has won the Delsey Mini Photo Pack from the Auckland Camera Centre.

Both winners' photo essays will soon be on our website.

Thanks to Judith's generosity, all contestants will receive a signed copy of New Zealand - Spirit of the Land, written by David Sullivan with 120 photos by Judith.

All the contestants' photo essays be on display in the Visitor Centre on Love Your Mountain Day, Sunday 8 December.

Thank you everyone, and congratulations!