One Tree Hill

The last day of the Easter holidays...  One of my flatmates suggested to go to One Tree Hill when I was hanging out in my room.

It's a place you can get to easily by bus.

We searched for information about One Tree Hill on the internet and got ready to go out.

I learned that:
- One Tree Hill is Maungakiekie in Māori, and it's a 182 metre volcanic peak.
- The hill's scoria cones erupted 20,000 - 30,000 years ago, creating lava flows that covered an area of 20 square kilometres.
- The summit provides views across the Auckland area, and allows visitors like me to see both of Auckland's habours!

It was also said that Cornwall Park would be worth to visit so we decided to stop by the park on our way to the hill.

I like history.  I, therefore, was pleased to know about the history of the places - One Tree Hill and Cornwall Park. I am going to tell you the history as on the way I was going to the hill.

We met in front of the ASB bank on Queen St to take the bus. The bus driver said it was 3 stage but it turned out that it isn't!  We didn't have time to complain and get my money back.  My friend even left his lunch box. ㅜㅜ  Actually I've undergone some bad experiences since I came here Auckland.  I just hope that other students from overseas don't have any trouble.

Anyway the good weather made me feel good.

We walked to Cornwall Park wondering where the One Tree Hill was.

Here is what I learned about Cornwall Park:
- The park is the legacy of Sir John Logan Campbell.
- Originally it was his own farm in the 1880s.
- By about 1900 he realised that Auckland's suburbs were spreading at an alarming rate and he decided to leave the Greenlane property to the city as a park.
- Parts of the park, about 120 hectares (296.5 acres), are still run as a farm today, providing Aucklanders with access to an example of rural life in the heart of the city.
- The park was designed by the landscape architect Austin Strong and is based on Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

The origin of the name:
- Campbell initially intended the name to be Corinth Park after the noted region in Greece. It received the name Cornwall Park because of the Royal visit to Australia and New Zealand in 1901 by the Duke & Duchess of Cornwall (later King George V & Queen Mary). John Logan Campbell was asked to be honorary Mayor of Auckland during the visits, and he took the opportunity to gift the park to the people of New Zealand and asked that it be called Cornwall Park. In return he was knighted.

When I was taking pictures of the park, I thought it's much more interesting not just enjoying the beauty of the park but knowing about it. That's because knowing something new is one of the great pleasures.

We spent about 30 minutes there and were off to One Tree Hill.

It was not easy to walk up the hill.

We took a little rest in the middle of the hill watching people who were out to enjoy the last day of the holiday.  It was just so peaceful and tranquil.

  I'm trying to learn how to describe what I feel these days but it's still not easy for me.
  I wish I could tell you exactly as what I felt.
  I should try harder. ^^
  We started to climb up the hill again smelling poop of sheeps and cows.
  It was really rough. My legs were shaking. My friends sometimes almost fell over a rock.

 
Soooo cute, isn't it?!

When we reached top of the hill, everything just became fine... The beautiful scenery that I missed when I was climbing up was coming into my eyes. I realized that every single drop of sweat was worth it. It was so nice to feel the breeze blowing softly. I didn't leave out the Sky Tower again thanks to the clear and blue sky.

I strongly suggest that someone like me who likes looking down at the towns come here, lie down and feel the nature. Every moment that I feel in Auckland will remain inside me forever.

AND why is the name One Tree Hill?

On the summit of the hill is the grave of Sir John Logan Campbell surmounted by an obelisk. The obelisk was constructed in accordance with the wishes and provisions in John Campbell's will to commemorate his admiration for the Māori people. Before it stands a bronze statue of a Māori warrior. The stone obelisk was completed by 1940 – the centennial year of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi but the unveiling of the obelisk was delayed until 24 April 1948, after World War II was over, in keeping with Māori custom of not holding such ceremonies during a time of bloodshed.

Trees on the hill:
When Auckland was founded as a colonial town a tree stood near the summit which gave the hill its English name. Two accounts identify it as a pohutukawa. This tree was cut down by a white settler in 1852, in an act of vandalism in one account or for firewood in another. It seems likely this was a different tree from the totara which, as a sacred tree, had given the hill one of its Maori names. A radiata pine was planted in the 1870s to replace the previous totara. John Logan Campbell repeatedly tried to grow native trees on the hill's summit, but the trees failed to survive - with only two pines, originally part of a shelter belt for the native trees, surviving for long. However, in 1960, one of the two was felled in another attack, possibly for firewood.

The remaining tree was later attacked twice with chainsaws by Māori activists to draw attention to injustices they believed the New Zealand government had inflicted upon Maori (as the tree was not a native New Zealand species, they considered it an appropriate target). The first attack happened on 28 October 1994, the anniversary of the 1835 Declaration of Independence. A second attack on 5 October 2000 left the tree unable to recover even though substantial efforts were made, and so it was removed on 26 October due to the risk of it collapsing. 

I respect the attitude that Sir Campbell has shown to others to admire the Māori culture.
That's the thing that I must learn.
This trip was a great opportunity for me to make me know a lot.
Thank you New Zealand.

Comments

[Myf]

It looks lovely - a really great day out.
I am sorry to hear about your bad experiences (eg with the bus driver), but I admire your motivation to go out and explore your surroundings - and very much enjoy reading about the explorations.