Mangere Mountain / Te Pane a Mataaho

Mangere Mountain (or Te Pane a Mataaho) is a large scoria cone that erupted about 20 000 to 25 000 years ago. The walls of the cone are highest to the south, west and north reaching over 100m high at the highest point. They were built up by fire-fountaining eruptions in the large main crater. To the east (near the present day sports grounds and car park), the wall of the cone was breached by lava flows. The lava from Mangere was very fluid and multiple flows spread out to cover about 5 square kilometers of the surrounding area.
In the centre of the main crater is a small hill. This is actually a lava plug that was pushed up (extruded) after it solidified, by the pressure of magma and gas beneath. There are two craters next to the plug that were formed by explosions of escaping gas.
Just north of the main crater is a second one that erupted after the activity of the main crater ended.
Mangere Mountain / Te Pane a Mataaho was extensively occupied in pre-European times as is evidenced by the many terraces and pits on the slopes of the cone.

Mangere Mountain is a great volcano to explore. You can follow the easy track, or cut across into the main crater to take a close look at the plug and associated gas eruption vents. The terraces and many pits on the rim and sides of the volcano testify to its historical importance as a site of occupation. From the main rim, there are good views of Manukau Harbour and Mangere Lagoon (formed by explosive eruptions, before Mangere Mountain erupted), as well as across the city.