KEY POINTS:
One of Auckland's oldest volcanoes will be transformed into a public park after the Manukau City Council bought Pukaki crater for $6.7 million.
The council has confirmed the purchase of the crater, which is south of Mangere near Auckland Airport and estimated to be up to 200,000 years old.
Manukau City Mayor Sir Barry Curtis said the 25ha of privately owned land around the crater rim plus the perpetual lease over 36ha of flat land inside the crater would become one of the city's most significant public open spaces.
"This purchase will allow the creation of a premier park significant for its natural and cultural heritage plus landscape and recreational values for all the people of Manukau," he said.
"This was one of the only opportunities for a largely unmodified volcanic explosion crater to come into council ownership."
The news has also pleased the local Maori of Te Akitai Waiohua hapu, who despite their protests had their lands, including the crater, confiscated in the 1860s.
In 1990, the freehold title of their ancestral marae lands, including an urupa (cemetery), were returned to the Pukaki Maori Marae Committee as part of settling the Manukau Treaty of Waitangi Claim.
Pukaki Marae committee spokeswoman Maahia Takaanini-Wilson was "absolutely delighted" by the outcome.
"We can only acknowledge and applaud the leadership of our local government for their commitment to the Waitangi Tribunal's findings over the Manukau claim," she said.
Ms Takaanini-Wilson was unsure whether the marae committee would co-manage the park with the council.
"We haven't really thought that far ahead but this decision allows for the generations to come to enjoy this unique landform."
The crater was once a tidal lagoon before it was converted to pasture in 1922. It hosted speedway meets in 1929 before it was bought by Chinese market gardeners.
The council plans to leave the park in its present state for the time being and public access will not be immediately available because of arrangements with the vendor for continued grazing for the next year.
Geological Society of New Zealand spokesman Bruce Hayward said the society had heard a rumour the council was interested in buying the crater.
"We sent them a letter saying what a golden opportunity it was. Congratulations to the council on this decision."
Dr Hayward said the crater was one of the three features in Manukau that had the potential to reach World Heritage status, alongside Puketutu Island and Crater Hill.
"It is one of the best-preserved craters in Auckland because it hasn't been built on," he said. "It is most easy to see. It can be seen by passengers looking out of the window of their plane."
Dr Hayward said University of Auckland staff had recently drilled holes in the crater and discovered it could be up to 200,000 years old.
- additional reporting: Alanah May Eriksen
Pukaki crater
* 200,000 years old.
* 30m deep.
* 600m wide.
* Sold for $6.7 million.
* A tidal lagoon before being drained in 1922 and converted to pasture.
* Hosted speedway meets in 1929 before being bought by Chinese market gardeners.
* Confiscated from Te Akitai Waiohua hapu (sub-tribe) in the 1860s.
* Returned to the Pukaki Maori marae committee in 1990.
