Viewshaft

Viewshaft is a geo-linquistic drift, from north to south, through the volcanic fields of Tamaki Makaurau. It shows mountains still to be seen, and others that are not. Except sometimes through the photographs or words of those who felt a need to describe them at the time. Those words and images come into play here, through the writings of geologists Firth, Searle and Hayward, and also through the influence of two small but notable publications, Auckland’s Unique Heritage: 63 Wonderful Volcanic Cones and Craters. An Appeal to Save Them (1928) and Auckland Volcanic Cones: A Report on Their Condition and a Plea for Their Preservation (1957). Both were attempts to preserve Auckland’s volcanic features at a time when they were being rapidly consumed by twentieth century demands. Viewshaft is accompanied by an essay by Dr. Rangihiroa Panoho, ‘Aku Maunga Haere’ (my travelling mountains).

Viewshaft is testimony to his continuing gaze at the volcanic maunga that have an iconic presence in Tamaki Makaurau. Aucklanders live on and in the shadow of these maunga and the recent public debates about how their tihi ‘their sacred high points’ are planted and the replacement of exotic with natives shows just how much passion these natural forms generate. Tamaki Makaurau is indeed still a land ‘desired by hundreds of lovers'”. Dr. Rangihiroa Panoho