A Primal State
"A Fit Place for Macbeth's witches"
William Colenso, missionary and explorer, 1847
Traditionally, Māori believe there is a deep connection between humans, the land and the natural world and this influences their world view that humans are an integral and equal part of nature. This intimate relationship with the land, and the understanding of their place in nature means that they usually have a very deep respect for nature.
Being subject to the spectacular primal forces inherent in the volcanic landscape of New Zealand it can be understood how the Polynesians, from whom the Mauri descended, who arrived on the uninhabited islands both feared and respected the natural environment which these forces created.
Further information below images
Shaped by Solitude
Geologically New Zealand is relatively young the North Island being half the age of the South Island, which are seperated by a fault line. Whilst there are 6 volcanoes in the country with 12 eruptions in the last 2000 years, volcanic activity is mainly on the north island the most recent being in the Taupo region.
The last violent eruption from Ngāuruhoe in 1975 * produced an ash cloud, which reached 13 kilometres above the crater, lasted for hours and tossed a 3000 tonne block of lava a hundred metres away. Although lava eruptions are less common, the last from Ruapehu in 1945 began a process which led ultimately in 1953, to the collapse of the natural dam holding the water in the crater. The subsequent mudflow in the Whangaehu River destroyed one of the railway bridge piers at Tangiwai just as a train approached. 151 lives were lost. Also, of course, was the severe earthquakes which destroyed Napier in the 1930's killing over 250, and parts of Christchurch in 2011, which killed 185 people. The damage is still being reparied in 2023.
What can be seen at all times outside of these spectacular disturbances are steaming vents, hot springs, old lava flows, beautiful water filled explosion craters and stunning landscape over the central area of the North Island. All remind us of the primal forces which governed earth's formation and which continue to do so in a different time cycle of time to our human one.
* See my "Tongariro Crossing" Gallery, which includes a walk past Ngāuruhoe!