Auckland's natural castles and marae

When the Department of Conservation released a tentative list of candidates for world heritage listing last week, Auckland's volcanic field was missing.

But interest groups say the list is a mere starting point and they are determined to press for world heritage status for the geologically unique volcanic field.

Mt Eden could be the shop window, with campaigners for a visitor centre seeing potential in an education centre that promotes the entire volcanic field under one roof.

The field, which stretches from Milford to Manurewa, includes prominent cones such as Rangitoto, North Head and Mt Eden, craters, tuff rings, lava flows and caves.

In pre-European times, the cones were valued pa sites. Since colonisation, many have been quarried, levelled, built on, used as playing fields and covered in trees. But awareness of the need to preserve what's left is growing, highlighted by the Auckland Volcanic Cones Society's successful campaign to divert a motorway route around Mt Roskill.

Society spokesman Greg Smith says since Transit was forced to change course, it has taken a positive approach to landscaping issues, and is keen to minimise the road's visual impact on the mountain. "We'd like to see that happen everywhere - if infrastructure has to happen then it has to be sympathetic."

The society is wary of other threats - housing development around Mt Wellington, potential impacts of a new harbour crossing, areas in private ownership in Manukau.

Smith says the volcanic field meets both the physical and cultural requirements for world heritage status.

"Archaeologically, Tamaki Makaurau was the largest neolithic settlement in the world. Nearly all the cones had Maori occupation and there's evidence of the huge Maori presence that was here.

"Those cones represent to Auckland what mediaeval castles are to England.

"Aucklanders go on about the wonderful coastline - it's the volcanoes which are unique."

The main obstacle is the Auckland problem. The field is dispersed, with several local authorities, iwi and the Department of Conservation all having a role in its management.

Ngati Whatua's Ngarimu Blair says the cones and other volcanic features should not be treated as council parks and reserves but need a specialised approach.

"All of these places are our marae."