Mt Hobson/ Ohinerau
LAND AREA: Approximately 9.4 hectares
A BRIEF HISTORY
Mt Hobson was a Maori pa site when the mountain was known as Remuwera from about 1400. After many changes of occupants as a result of inter-tribal wars, the mountain was uninhabited from around 1750.
In 1841 the crown purchased the land around and including Mt Hobson from Ngati Whātua. A crown grant of the land around Mt Hobson was made to George Graham in 1847 but 23 acres containing the mountain was retained for (unspecified) 'public purposes'. In 1848 Graham sold the land to James Dilworth who undertook a determined campaign to recover the mountain, which was ultimately unsuccessful.
In 1881 the Mount Hobson Domain Board was established to administer what was now a public domain. By 1909 the Remuera Road Board took on the task of administering the domain, and when amalgamation occurred in 1915 control of the domain and the mountain within vested in Auckland City Council. A Field of Daffodils with seat and wall was established as a War Memorial in 1948 and over the years numerous memorial seats with plaques have been installed to remember deceased local residents. Mt Hobson came under the control of Auckland Council in 2010. In 2014 administration of the maunga passed to the Tūpuna Maunga Authority under the Nga Mana Whenua o Tamaki Makaurau Redress Act (a Treaty Settlement).
SIGNIFICANT ALTERATIONS TO MAUNGA
Water reservoir installed on side of mountain ( 1935 )
Water reservoir installed in crater of mountain ( 1955 )
Water reservoir built at base of mountain ( 1955 )
Quarry activity ( l877, 1914 - 1928 )
INFORMATION ABOUT TREES ON MT HOBSON
No specific information regarding tree numbers and species is currently available. This page will be updated when information is available.
A visual inspection of Mt Hobson shows significant tree planting on the Remuera Rd boundary and on the steep slopes leading to the summit opposite Ridings Rd. The vast majority of the trees in this area are exotic species and appear to be very old. Additional areas of planting are on the upper areas of the slopes above the lower reservoir. Other individual trees are scattered over the mountain. An estimate of the ratio of exotic / native trees is 70% / 30%. The most predominant native tree is Pohutukawa.
SIGNIFICANT TREES ON THE MAUNGA
There are in excess of 50 varied species of oak tree, over 40 varied species of olive tree, more than 20 varied species of pine tree, (including huge Macrocarpa trees ) and a number of Moreton Bay Fig trees. Other species include Norfolk Pine trees, poplar trees and cherry trees.
CONTACT DETAILS FOR MT HOBSON
Email us at: honourthemaunga@gmail.com
OTHER GROUPS OF INTEREST
- Honour the Maunga Community (on Facebook)
- Honour the Maunga | Email: honourthemaunga@gmail.com )
- Tree Advocates | Email: treeadvocatesnz@gmail.com
- Remuera Residents Association Inc | Email: chair@remueraresidents.org.nz
- Orakei Local Board ( Email: orakeilocalboard@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz )
- Tupuna Maunga Authority