Uses of the volcanic field

Auckland's Volcanoes are of special significance to the region.

Auckland Volcanoes are places where Maori made their living spaces and used the steep sided cones as part of fortified sites or pa. Maori used the valuable rich volcanic soil to grow food producing vegetables for the early Auckland settlement. The fields surrounding Mt Wellington, the Panmure Basin and Mangere Mountain were important for food production until the 1960's when urban development saw most of the crops replaced by industrial and commercial uses.

In the recent past, several of the volcanoes have been quarried for basalt and scoria, which has been used in the construction of the airport, buildings, pathways and roads. As a result, some of the landforms have either completely disappeared or are not easily recognisable (e.g. Mt Smart Stadium). Some volcanoes are still being quarried; for example the Winstone Quarry at Mount Wellington still extracts basalt from one of the main lava flows.

Groundwater soakage into the lava flows provides an underground source of water. The Onehunga area for example, sources its water supply from wells in the lava flows of One Tree Hill.

The volcanic field provides many places where Aucklanders and tourists go to enjoy the open space, to view the landscape and to exercise. The increasing value we place on recreational use of the volcanoes and their cultural, historical and geological significance, has led to many of the cones and volcanic features being protected.