Te Tatua-a-Riukiuta

Te Tātua-a-Riukiuta
Three Kings
Te Tātua-a-Riukiuta from Mt Albert
Highest point
Elevation	133 m (436 ft)
Coordinates	Coordinates: 36°54′11″S 174°45′17″E / 36.902926°S 174.754651°E / -36.902926; 174.754651
Geography
Location	Auckland, North Island, New Zealand
Parent range	Auckland volcanic field
Geology
Volcanic arc/belt	Auckland volcanic field

Te Tātua-a-Riukiuta (also known as Three Kings) is a volcano in Three Kings, New Zealand that erupted 28,500 years ago. The volcano had three prominent peaks and a number of smaller peaks until most of them were quarried away, leaving a sole remaining large peak.

It was probably the most complex volcano in the Auckland volcanic field, consisting of five significant scoria cones and about a dozen smaller scoria mounds, sitting inside a large explosion crater. Along the edge of this crater to the south runs Mount Albert Road and to the north Landscape Road. The explosion crater, which was caused by the initial eruption, is the largest in Auckland, at 800 metres across and nearly 200 metres deep. The three largest scoria cones of the group were Big King at 133 m high, East King at 120 m high, and Highest King which was 135 m high.

Lava flows ran from here down a stream valley for three kilometres to Western Springs. These flows created lava tunnels which still exist under the ground surface. Thus rainwater falling on Te Tātua-a-Riukiuta and the surrounding area is channeled underground for miles until it emerges at Western Springs Lake. Most of these lava tunnels have collapsed but sections of them form caves and can be accessed from private properties in the area. It was formerly believed that the lava had travelled further and formed Meola Reef at Point Chevalier, but in 2008 it was discovered that the Meola Reef lava had come from the older Mount Saint John volcano.

The dating of the eruption to 28,500 years ago is one of the three most reliable eruption datings (as of 2011) for the more than 50 volcanoes in the Auckland volcanic field, the other two being Maungarei at 10,000 years ago, and Rangitoto Island, 500–1500 years ago. Charred twigs and wood were found in six boreholes drilled through Te Tātua-a-Riukiuta lava flows in 2006 and carbon dating of the organic material produced six very similar dates around 28,500 years.

An earlier name for the volcano was Te Tatua o Mataaho (the war belt of Mataaho), which referred to a deity living in the Maungawhau crater. It was later adapted to Te Tātua-a-Riukiuta, which referred to Riukiuta, a senior priest of the Tainui waka who brought together diverse genealogical lines of the local tribes. The name Three Kings derives from the biblical Magi, and was named by Captain William Hobson's surveyor Felton Mathew in 1841. Big King refers to the second-highest and only remaining peak.