Mount Hikurangi (Northland)

Although not as prominent as its eastern namesake, Northland's Mount Hikurangi is also of note. At 625 m (2,051 ft), this peak overlooks central Northland and is a prominent peak on the skyline at the Bay of Islands,^{[citation needed]} the area of the first permanent European settlement in New Zealand.

Hikurangi's height is shown on LINZ maps as 631 m (2,070 ft)^[1] and 626 m (2,054 ft) in a regional plan. It forms the upper catchments of the Awarua, Kaikou and Punakitere rivers. There is a communications mast on the summit, serviced by a track through the bush. The mountain is formed of Cretaceous-Paleocene ophiolitic volcanics. It forms part of Tokawhero Forest, which has been logged. The secondary kauri-podocarp-broadleaved forest is now dominated by totara and kānuka, with kauri, tōwai, taraire, kahikatea, rewarewa, rimu, pukatea, northern rata, tanekaha and miro scattered emergents.^[2] Several uncommon species live in the bush, including Punctidae snails.^[3]

There are also two other hills in the area to the north and west of Whangārei with the same name; a 365 m (1,198 ft) volcanic cone near Hikurangi^[4] and a 173 m (568 ft) hill to the south of the Hikurangi River valley.^[5] Also in Northland, a 179 m (587 ft) Hikurangi rises to the south of Taipa.^[6]

• "Place name detail: Hikurangi". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 8 April 2009.

• 2010 view of Hikurangi and mast from Orakau Road

35°32′23″S 173°54′52″E / 35.5396°S 173.9144°E / -35.5396; 173.9144

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