Friends of Maungawhau (FoM) began in the 1980s as an informal group of citizens concerned about the degraded state of the mountain. We became an incorporated society in 2002.

Maungawhau has a human history of over 1,000 years and is a heritage site of international significance. The mountain is sacred to Māori and treasured by local people. It is a unique geological and cultural landscape and has one of the best preserved scoria cones and craters of the remaining Auckland maunga.

We have a long track record of campaigning on management issues such as removal of cattle and vehicles from the maunga and the need for a professional ranger service and a visitor centre.

FoM volunteers meet every Tuesday morning to work on the maunga. Our main focus is restoring and encouraging natural regeneration in the disused Batger Quarry on the western slope, and weeding and revegetating parts of the southern slope.

Please contact us if you are interesting in helping on a casual or regular basis.

We need help with:

• Weeding, planting and releasing native palnts
• Track maintenance
• Pest control
• Plant nursery
• Advocacy, education and publicity
• Working with neighbours
• Organising social activities
• Secretarial work

Maungawhau

You are beautiful
in all weathers,
even when you are crying.
Caught in a squall,
high on your open hillside,
the track keeping pace
with my restlessness.

At last, near the top,
I can stop, thankfully
tired.

The sound of the rain
on the leaves, the smell
of the earth. Tasting you
on my skin.

Judy Haswell
© 1997