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Mutukāroa / Hamlins Hill Regional Park
Looking east from Mutukaroa / Hamlins Hill Regional Park
Location	Maungakiekie-Tāmaki, Auckland, New Zealand
Coordinates	36°55′12″S 174°49′55″E / 36.920°S 174.832°E / -36.920; 174.832
Area	48 ha (120 acres)
Operated by	Auckland Council

Mutukāroa / Hamlins Hill Regional Park is a regional park situated in the Auckland suburb of Penrose in New Zealand's North Island. It is situated in Maungakiekie-Tāmaki, north-east of the Manukau Harbour and west of the Tāmaki River. The park is owned and operated by Auckland Council.

Geography

Mutukāroa / Hamlins Hill is the largest non-volcanic hill on the Auckland isthmus. It is formed from Waitemata sandstone, surrounded by much younger volcanic deposits. The hill is 65 metres high.

The regional park is predominantly made up of two European farms, Hamlin's Farm and Penrose Farm.

History

Mutukaroa is the site of one of the largest kāinga (undefended settlements) on the Tāmaki isthmus, surrounded by vast kūmara gardens. During the Waiohua period, the hill was a residence for Ngāi Tai, who continued to occupy the hill after Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei settled the isthmus in the 18th century.

The name Hamlin(s) Hill comes from James Hamlin, a reverend of the Church Missionary Society, who received the land as part of a Crown land grant in the 1840s. For many years, the farmland on the hill was used as holding paddocks for the Westfield Freezing Works. The hill was planned for demolition in the 1960s, as a part of a plan to reclaim 30 hectares of land from the Manukau Harbour. The hill was saved after a public outcry and court action.

Since the early 2000s, native trees have been planted on the hill. The hill was officially gazetted as Mutukaroa / Hamlin Hill in 2014.

Gallery

• Entrance to the park
• Sheep grazing on the fielded area at the top of Mutukaroa / Hamlin Hill
• Forested tracks within the regional park

References

1. ^ Janssen, Peter (January 2021). Greater Auckland Walks. New Holland Publishers. p. 104-105. ISBN 978-1-86966-516-6. Wikidata Q118136068.
2. "Council profile". aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Auckland Council.
3. ^ Cameron, Ewen; Hayward, Bruce; Murdoch, Graeme (2008). A Field Guide to Auckland: Exploring the Region's Natural and Historical Heritage (Revised ed.). Random House New Zealand. p. 238. ISBN 978-1-86962-1513.
4. ^ "Mutukaroa / Hamlin Hill". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
5. "Auckland Unitary Plan: Appendix 21 Treaty settlement legislation – Statutory acknowledgements" (PDF). Auckland Council. 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2022.

• Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board Area
• Regional parks of the Auckland Region
• Tourist attractions in the Auckland Region
• Urban forests in New Zealand
• Farmed protected areas of New Zealand