Tūpuna Maunga Authority

The Authority is a tangible expression of the spirit of partnership between Ngā Mana Whenua and Auckland Council. This supports complimentary approaches to the day to day management of Tūpuna Maunga.

Introduction

Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau (ancestral mountains of Auckland) hold a paramount place in the historical, spiritual, ancestral and cultural identity of the 13 iwi and hapū of Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau (the Māori tribes of Auckland).

Background

In 2014, the Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Deed vested ownership of 14 maunga to mana whenua. The Tūpuna Maunga Authority was established in 2014 as the statutory entity to govern these Tūpuna Maunga. The Authority is comprised of six representatives of Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau and six members appointed by Auckland Council.

The Authority is independent of Auckland Council and has its own decision-making processes and functions. The Authority serves as a tangible expression of enduring partnership between Ngā Mana Whenua and Auckland Council.

Tūpuna Maunga are places to be honoured, respected and protected for those who have gone before and for the many generations to come.

Tūpuna Maunga are:

  • Matukutūruru / Wiri Mountain
  • Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill
  • Maungarei / Mount Wellington
  • Maungawhau / Mount Eden
  • Maungauika / North Head
  • Ōwairaka / Te Ahi-kā-a-Rakataura / Mount Albert
  • Ōhinerau / Mount Hobson
  • Ōhuiarangi / Pigeon Mountain
  • Ōtāhuhu / Mount Richmond
  • Pukewīwī / Puketāpapa / Mount Roskill
  • Rarotonga / Mount Smart
  • Te Kōpuke / Tītīkōpuke / Mount St John
  • Takarunga / Mount Victoria
  • Te Tātua a Riukiuta / Big King

Ownership of Māngere Mountain and the northern land of Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill remains with the Crown but are administered through the Tūpuna Maunga Authority.

An aerial view of the mostly grassed maunga surrounded by houses and industry.
Pukewīwī / Puketāpapa (Mount Roskill)
Photo credit: Tūpuna Maunga Authority
An aerial view of the mostly grassed maunga surrounded by houses. Māngere Bridge and the Manukau Harbour can be seen at the top of the image.
Te Pane o Mataoho / Te Ara Pueru (Māngere Mountain)
Photo credit: Tūpuna Maunga Authority

Auckland Council and mana whenua in partnership

Auckland Council is responsible for the routine maintenance of Tūpuna Maunga and administered lands under the direction of the Authority. 

Council’s 21 local boards make decisions on local matters, provide local leadership and funding to support strong communities. Eight local boards have areas that encompass Tūpuna Maunga. The six council representatives on the Tūpuna Maunga Authority are councillors from the following local boards:

  • Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa
  • Devonport-Takapuna
  • Māngere-Ōtāhuhu
  • Maungakiekie-Tāmaki
  • Whau
  • Waitākere

Council also provides the Tūpuna Maunga Authority with the administrative support necessary to carry out its responsibility and functions.

A group of people stand around a man, wearing a safety vest, who is kneeling planting a small plant.
Volunteers learning how to plant a tree to ensure its survival.
Photo credit: Tūpuna Maunga Authority
Many people can be seen planting a sloped area with native plants laid out ready for them.
Native planting with local volunteers at Te Pane o Mataoho / Te Ara Pueru (Māngere Mountain).
Photo credit: Tūpuna Maunga Authority
Maunga tū, Maunga ora,
Maunga ora Tāmaki ora

If the Maunga are well,
Tāmaki Makaurau is well

The Authority represents a new era in the governance and management of the Tūpuna Maunga. It ensures that mana whenua world views, priorities and strong living connections, along with continued public access that all communities, are woven into their long-term care.

Tūpuna Maunga are at the heart of Auckland's identity and represent a celebration of our Māori identity as the city's point of difference in the world.

To deliver on mana whenua and community aspirations, mana whenua advocated for the preparation and implementation of integrated strategies and guidelines that cover pest management/biosecurity, biodiversity, education, communication, signage, recreation and design.

The six iwi mana whenua representatives on the Tūpuna Maunga Authority are made up of two representatives from each of the following rōpu:  

  • Marutūāhu Rōpū
    • Ngāti Maru
    • Ngāti Pāoa
    • Ngāti Tamaterā
    • Ngāti Whanaunga
    • Te Patukirikiri
  • Ngāti Whātua Rōpū
    • Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara
    • Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei
    • Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua
  • Waiohua Tāmaki Rōpū
    • Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki
    • Ngāti Tamaoho*
    • Ngāti Te Ata
    • Te Ākitai Waiohua
    • Te Kawerau ā Maki
An aerial view looking down on a boardwalk that curves through a large native planting.
A boardwalk crosses the sensitive wetland area of Ōhuiarangi (Pigeon Mountain).
Photo credit: Tūpuna Maunga Authority
Two people are walking down the boardwalk with a view out over Auckland City in the distance.
Boardwalks, managed car access and prohibiting visitors from entering the volcanic crater are all measures to protect Maungawhau (Mount Eden).
Photo credit: Tūpuna Maunga Authority

Tūpuna Maunga are taonga tuku iho (inherited ancestral treasures) passed down through the generations. The protection and restoration of the mauri (life force or essential quality and vitality) of the Tūpuna Maunga is essential for mana whenua to be able to exercise kaitiakitanga (guardianship).

There is also an opportunity to restore the ecological links between maunga, so they are healthy and have integrity. From a mātauranga (knowledge) Māori perspective, the mauri of the Tūpuna Maunga and the mauri of the people of Tāmaki Makaurau are interdependent. Replanting native habitats and reintroducing or attracting our native birds and wildlife contributes to a resilient, healthy and diverse environment, and people.

Mana whenua recognise that Tūpuna Maunga are revitalising and nourishing places that inspire connection, identity and affinity towards them. As kaitiaki, mana whenua envisage the Tūpuna Maunga as places for all cultures to come together and unite under their leadership and to share aspirations for the restoration of these taonga tuku iho. This encourages all people of Tāmaki Makaurau to want to safeguard the mauri of Tūpuna Maunga for their benefit and that of future generations.

Mana whenua respect the visual connection and sense of place people derive from the Tūpuna Maunga by maintaining and promoting significant views to the maunga from across Tāmaki Makaurau. This will emphasise the natural and cultural landscapes and routes which connect to and between each Tūpuna Maunga.

Mana whenua seek to improve the awareness of the natural, cultural, geological features and history of Tūpuna Maunga so the stories of people and maunga can be known. The use of a variety of mediums, including technology and interactive experiences, help to avoid visual clutter and reduce the need for physical visits.

One priority is encouraging low-impact and passive recreation and play, inspired by the topography and ecology of the landscape. Pedestrian and public access is prioritised on maunga, supporting restoration and protection. New and well-maintained paths and boardwalks prevent disturbance of the natural environment. Where appropriate, natural surfaces are preferred, allowing the rain to enter the ground as it would naturally.

A view up the steep side of a maunga where about 40 people are spread out planting trees.
A native planting event takes place on Te Pane o Mataoho / Te Ara Pueru (Māngere Mountain).
Photo credit: Tūpuna Maunga Authority
Nine people stand behind the main sign for the maunga. Four spades rest agains the sign and in the background people are planting small trees into the cleared ground,
Native restoration taking place on Te Tātua a Riukiuta (Big King).
Photo credit: Tūpuna Maunga Authority

Restoring pūriri forests on Tūpuna Maunga

Pūriri forests once thrived on the volcanic soils, riverbanks and marine terraces of Tāmaki Makaurau. The pūriri forest ecosystem (WF7) supports a diverse range of native plants and animals, providing food and shelter for species like kererū, tūī, pīwakawaka (fantail), ruru (morepork), and kōtare (kingfisher). However, urbanisation, infrastructure and quarrying have left these forests critically endangered, with only scattered remnants remaining.

Since 2018, the Tūpuna Maunga Authority has led a major restoration programme to bring these ecosystems back to the Tūpuna Maunga. To date over 180,000 native plants have been planted across the network, with a focus on species that support both biodiversity and cultural practices. This effort aims to create resilient ecosystems and reconnect people with the natural and cultural heritage of the maunga.

Protecting these restored forests involves more than just planting trees. The Authority also manages threats such as pest animals and invasive plants, which compete with native species. Ecological ‘halos’ have been established with buffer zones that help prevent reinvasion by predators and pest plants. The potential is for predator-free areas to support the return of native species such as geckos, kākā and pekapeka (bats) which make their homes in the cavities of mature pūriri trees.

Mana whenua play a key role in this restoration work, ensuring it aligns with Māori values and traditions. The programme includes planting species like rongoā (medicinal plants) to help restore cultural practices. The Tūpuna Maunga hold deep historical and spiritual significance, and bringing back pūriri forests strengthens the connection between the land, the people and traditional knowledge.

Community involvement is essential to the success of this project. The Authority hosts planting days, working with schools, universities and volunteers to help restore the maunga. By participating, volunteers not only support the environment but also build a lasting connection to these landscapes. 

Visit the Tūpuna Maunga Authority website for further information.