March 16, 2023
Next on our list of volcanic peaks to climb was Big King. The neighborhood surrounding Big King is called Three Kings, as the volcano originally had three peaks. The other two have been quarried for scoria so now only Big King, originally the second highest peak, remains. The name Three Kings comes from the Bible’s Three Wise Men who bore gifts to the baby Jesus. In Maori, the peak is called Te Tatua O Riukiuta which translates as The War Belt of Riukiuta. Riukiuta was a senior priest of the Tainui confederation of Maori tribes.
It is not one of highest peaks but is quite steep. Fortunately, there were steps on the steepest parts.
As we have mentioned in prior posts, the city has taken advantage of the height of the volcanic peaks in Auckland by excavating water storage tanks into many of their summits. Big King is the first peak that we have climbed where the tank actually stands on top of the summit.
On the side of the tank was a painting of Dog from the classic New Zealand comic strip, Footrot Flats, by Murray Ball. The strip, that ran from 1976 to 1994, followed the adventures of a sheepdog, known only as Dog, and his farmer owner Wal Foxtrot. Think Snoopy, but on a New Zealand farm.
Here is the view from the top, looking toward Mt. Eden and the city beyond.
In the 1930s and 1940s, thousands of detached two and three bedroom, cottage-style, houses were built throughout New Zealand to provide housing for low income families. Known locally as state houses, they have a reputation as being well-built and many are now privately owned.
It’s interesting to contrast the state houses with the terrace homes currently being built alongside the mountain. It is hard to imagine them standing the test of time as well as the state houses have.
Mal and Lauren 