Volcanoes of Auckland: The Essential Guide

From Rangitoto to One Tree Hill, Mt. Victoria to Mangere Lagoon, the city of Auckland, New Zealand, is defined by the volcanoes it is built upon. For tens of thousands of years, they have profoundly shaped the area’s geology and geography, playing a crucial part in the lives of the Maori and, later, the European settlers. As it covers all aspects of how scoria cones, craters, and lava are formed, this record demonstrates how volcanoes can act as sites for fortified villages, sweet potato gardens, 20th-century military fortifications, as well as sources of stone and water. This fully illustrated account is an essential guide for locals and tourists alike as they climb Mt. Eden or North Head and try to understand these extraordinary natural phenomena.

Bruce W. Hayward is a geologist who has worked for the New Zealand Geological Survey and Auckland Museum before going into private practice as a research scientist. He is the recipient of many awards and honors, including a James Cook Fellowship and the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to geological conservation. He is the author or coauthor of numerous scientific papers, research monographs, and books, such as The Restless Country and Trilobites, Dinosaurs, and Moa Bones. Graeme Murdoch is a historic heritage consultant, having previously worked as historian and then director of heritage at the Auckland Regional Council. He is the coauthor of A Field Guide to Auckland with Bruce W. Hayward and the author of Dreamers of the Day. Gordon Maitland is the curator of the pictorial collection at Auckland War Memorial Museum.