Mount Victoria, officially Takarunga / Mount Victoria, is the highest volcano on Auckland's North Shore, rising to 66 metres in elevation. Its age is currently unknown. Its lava flows now line much of Devonport's waterfront. Mount Victoria was the location of an important pàused by TÃÂmaki MÃÂori peoples. In the late 19th century, a gun fort was built on top of the hill, in order to defend the city of Auckland. As a designated tà «puna maunga, the mountain has been governed by the Tà «puna Maunga Authority, along with thirteen other cones throughout Auckland, since 2014.
The hill provides panoramic views of Auckland's WaitematÃÂ Harbour and the inner Hauraki Gulf. Over the years the peak and upper slopes have housed a signal station for shipping, artillery emplacements, farmland, and various concrete army bunkers, some from as early as the 1870s. One bunker now serves as the venue for the Devonport Folk Music Club.
The slopes of Mount Victoria are also home to Devonport Primary School, Takarunga Playcentre, a tennis court, a cemetery, a water reservoir which maintains supply to the area, and a scenic lookout. The old Signalman's House is now home to the Michael King Writers Centre which provides writers-in-residence programmes, hosting for visiting writers, residential workshops for experienced writers, and a series of workshops for young poets and emerging writers. The writer-in-residence programmes are supported by Creative New Zealand and the University of Auckland.
An important pÃÂ once occupied its slopes; some of its earthworks can still be seen. In the 18th century, Mount Victoria was seasonally occupied by Waiohua paramount chief Kiwi TÃÂmaki, during the seasons for bird catching and preservation. The MÃÂori language name, Takarunga, literally means "The Hill Standing Above", and contrasts with Mount Cambria, a now-quarried hill known to MÃÂori as (tl. "The Hill Standing Below"). A scoria mound known as Duders Hill, on Mount Victoria's southern slopes was mostly quarried away. French navigator Jules Dumont d'Urville climbed the hill in 1827, and it was given the name Mount Victoria, referring to Queen Victoria, by early settlers.
In 1841 a signal station was constructed on the peak, to better facilitate traffic to the Port of Auckland, and in 1880 the hill became a public reserve. In 1885, a gun fort was constructed on the peak, which was in use until after World War II.
In the 2014 Treaty of Waitangi settlement between the Crown and the NgàMana Whenua o TÃÂmaki Makaurau collective of 13 Auckland iwi and hapà « (also known as the TÃÂmaki Collective), ownership of the 14 Tà «puna Maunga of TÃÂmaki Makaurau / Auckland, was vested to the collective, including the volcano officially named Takarunga / Mount Victoria. The legislation specified that the land be held in trust "for the common benefit of NgàMana Whenua o TÃÂmaki Makaurau and the other people of Auckland". The Tà «puna Maunga o TÃÂmaki Makaurau Authority or Tà «puna Maunga Authority (TMA) is the co-governance organisation established to administer the 14 Tà «puna Maunga. Auckland Council manages the Tà «puna Maunga under the direction of the TMA.