Friends of Maungawhau is a group of volunteers who help to protect, preserve and enhance Maungawhau/Mt Eden in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland. We have been active in ecological restoration and advocacy for the maunga since the 1980s.

In 2012 a landmark Treaty settlement returned 14 of the Tūpuna Maunga (ancestral landscapes) to iwi/hapū ownership and established the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority, a statutory co-governance body where Mana Whenua and Auckland Council serve as equal partners. More information can be found on the Authority’s website.

We support the long-term vision and leadership of the Tūpuna Maunga Authority and enjoy working in close cooperation with its staff and contractors.

Our aims are:

• To assist the Tūpuna Maunga Authority and Auckland Council in caring for Maungawhau
• To encourage visitors to respect Maungawhau as a cultural and archaeological site of great value
• To help manage the vegetation on the maunga, while being mindful of heritage, biodiversity and environmental concerns

Our volunteer activities include weeding, planting and nursery work. We welcome new volunteers. Please go to our Contact page for information on volunteering.

In 2014 we published a book entitled Maungawhau: A short history of volunteer action. It is available for purchase or download. Please go to our Resources page for details.