Within the Urban Ark area Maungawhau / Mt Eden forms our eastern boundary, while Ōwairaka / Te Ahikā Roa o Raka / Mt Albert is the heart of the western half of the region.
We are also fringed by:
- Te Kōpuke / Titikōpuke / Mount St John
- Pukewīwī / Puketāpapa / Mount Roskill
- Te Tatua-a-Riukiuta / Big King
As part of a Treaty settlement, all five were returned to the 13 mana whenua iwi and hapū of Auckland, known as Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau (or The Tāmaki Collective). Since 2014, the maunga have been managed by the Tūpuna Maunga Authority, a statutory authority with equal representation from mana whenua and Auckland Council.
Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao aims to assist the Tūpuna Maunga Authority in its efforts to protect and restore the biodiversity of these taonga. Existing groups are already working with the Tūpuna Maunga Authority and we hope that these relationships will strengthen over time.
Friends of Maungawhau have long been advocates for native biodiversity on Maungawhau / Mt Eden and have worked with the Tūpuna Maunga Authority since 2014.
Pest Free Ōwairaka have been trapping predators around Ōwairaka / Te Ahikā Roa o Raka / Mt Albert since 2017 and work closely with the Tūpuna Maunga Authority.