Mt Smart / Rarotonga

MAUNGA NAME: Mt Smart / Rarotonga

LAND AREA: Approximately 22.3 hectares

A BRIEF HISTORY

Mt Smart was a fortified Maori pā site but, like most of Auckland’s volcanic cones, was no longer occupied by the mid-eighteenth century. In 1849 Ngāti Whātua sold 14 hectares including Mt Smart to the Crown.

Lava flows from Mt Wellington and One Tree Hill had flowed around Mt Smart to the Manukau Harbour leaving the area with little appeal to early European farming settlers. Because of its importance as a seaport, the Auckland Provincial Council decided in 1863 to build a railway line from Auckland central to Onehunga. From 1865 Mt Smart was quarried to supply rock for the railway, as well as for road construction throughout south Auckland. Quarry activities continued until the 1960s.

When the Mt Smart Domain Board was formed in 1937, the potential was seen for a bowl-shaped sports arena, and quarrying activity was carried out to produce the shape as it exists today. Additional areas were added to the Domain in 1940 (5 hectares) and 1961 (3 hectares). Development of the sporting stadium occurred during the 1960s. In 1979 administration of the Mt Smart Domain was transferred to the Auckland Regional Council.

The stadium was the main venue for the 1990 Commonwealth Games and has for many years been the home to various sporting groups including the Warriors NRL team. Music concerts and other events have regularly been held at Mt Smart Stadium. In 2010 Mt Smart Stadium was vested in Auckland Council.

Ownership of Mt Smart was included in the Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Act (Treaty Settlement) in 2014, however, because it operates as a business unit, operational control remains with Auckland Council, rather than the Tupuna Maunga Authority.

SIGNIFICANT ALTERATIONS TO MAUNGA

Mt Smart’s volcanic cone no longer exists as the result of almost 100 years of quarry activity. Athletic tracks, playing fields, grandstands, numerous buildings, carparks and various accessways have been built over a long period of time.

INFORMATION ABOUT TREES ON MT SMART / RAROTONGA

As the result of industrial activity on the site, planting on the site of the former Mt Smart mountain has mainly occurred as a result of stadium facility development. The most dominant area of planting is on the southern boundary and around the road frontages of the reserve.

While there are a handful of exotic trees near the entrances to the stadium, native species comprise most of the plantings.

SIGNIFICANT TREES ON MAUNGA

The area fronting Church St contains a large number and wide variety of native trees. This provides an attractive small urban native forest with much evidence of self-seeding regeneration under the canopy. While most well-known native trees are in evidence, the predominant species is Pohutukawa.

CONTACT DETAILS FOR HONOUR THE MAUNGA RE: MT SMART / RAROTONGA

NA – Currently contact can be made with: honourthemaunga@gmail.com