View source for Mount Taranaki

{{Short description|Volcano in North Island of New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
<!--WARNING -after editing this page if error messages are shown in red a page purge will be needed https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mount_Taranaki&action=submit --->
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Mount Taranaki
| other_name = {{native name|mi|Taranaki Maunga }}
| photo = Mt_Taranaki.JPG
| photo_caption = View of Mount Taranaki from [[Stratford, New Zealand|Stratford]], showing Fanthams Peak on the southern flank
| elevation_m = 2518
| elevation_ref = 
| prominence_m = 2308
| prominence_ref = <ref>{{cite web |title = Peaklist.org: Oceania |url = http://peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/OceaniaP1500m.html |access-date = 2007-03-04 |archive-date = 6 October 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201006030454/http://peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/OceaniaP1500m.html |url-status = live }}</ref>
| listing = [[Ultra-prominent peak|Ultra]]<br />[[List of mountains of New Zealand by height#The 100 highest mountains|New Zealand #65]]
| map = New Zealand
| label_position = left
| location = [[North Island]], New Zealand
| map_alt = 
| coordinates = {{Coord|39|17|47|S|174|03|53|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| topo = NZMS 169 Egmont National Park
| type = [[Stratovolcano]]
| age = 135 ka
| last_eruption = 1854
| first_ascent = Ernst Dieffenbach &amp; James Heberley, 1839<ref>{{cite web |title= Pouākai Crossing: History and culture |url= https://www.doc.govt.nz/pouakai-crossing  |publisher= [[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] |access-date=11 April 2025}}</ref><ref name="Langton1996" />
| easiest_route = Mount Taranaki Summit Track ([[trail]])<ref>{{cite web | title = Mount Taranaki Summit Track (NZ DOC) | url = http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/taranaki/taranaki/mount-taranaki-summit-track/ | access-date = 2007-03-04 | archive-date = 21 December 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131221092844/http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/taranaki/taranaki/mount-taranaki-summit-track/ | url-status = live }}</ref>
| embedded ={{#tag:mapframe|{{Wikipedia:Map data/Northern North Island Volcanics}}|frameless=1
|align=center
|text=Taranaki [[andesite]] (red shading) in centre of map. The surrounding debris and [[lahar]] fields are not shown although they include the green forested area on the map that surround Mount Taranaki and the [[Pouākai Range]] and have reached the sea in all directions on the Taranaki peninsula except where blocked by the Pouākai Range. To its north are the older andesitic volcanoes of [[Pouākai Range|Pouākai]] and [[Kaitake Range|Kaitake]].{{Wikipedia:Map data/Northern North Island Volcanics/key}}
|width=295 
|height=295 
|latitude=-39.31
|longitude=174.045
|icon=no
|zoom=9
}}
}}
'''Mount Taranaki''' ({{Langx|mi|Taranaki Maunga}}), officially '''Taranaki Maunga''' and also known as '''Mount Egmont''', is a dormant [[stratovolcano]] in the [[Taranaki]] region on the west coast of New Zealand's [[North Island]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://gns.cri.nz/content/download/6149/33766/file/QuickFacts%20%20MtTaranaki.pdf | title = Volcano Fact Sheet: Mount Taranaki / Egmont Volcano | publisher = GNS Science | year = 2010 | access-date = 2012-01-10 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140303005440/http://gns.cri.nz/content/download/6149/33766/file/QuickFacts%20%20MtTaranaki.pdf | archive-date = 3 March 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>'Likely to erupt in the future', Neal & Alloway 1991, as quoted in [http://www.rsnz.org/publish/nzjgg/1997/6.pdf New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122021017/http://www.rsnz.org/publish/nzjgg/1997/6.pdf |date=22 November 2008 }}</ref><ref name="andrews-and-paewai-2025">
{{cite news
 | last1 = Andrews | first1 = Emma
 | last2 = Paewai | first2 = Pokere
 | title = Taranaki Maunga becomes a legal person as treaty settlement passes into law
 | date = 30 January 2025
 | work = [[RNZ]]
 | url = https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/540431/taranaki-maunga-becomes-a-legal-person-as-treaty-settlement-passes-into-law
 | access-date = 2025-01-31
}}
</ref>  At {{convert|2518|m|ft|}}, it is the second highest mountain in the North Island, after [[Mount Ruapehu]]. It has a secondary cone, Fanthams Peak ({{langx|mi|Panitahi}}), {{convert|1966|m|ft}}, on its south side.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dawson Falls and East Egmont Walks |url= https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/taranaki/dawson-falls-east-egmont-brochure-and-map.pdf |date=2015 |publisher=[[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] |access-date=11 April 2025}}</ref>

== Name ==
The name ''Taranaki'' is from the [[Māori language]]. The mountain was named after Rua Taranaki, the first ancestor of the [[iwi]] (tribe) called [[Taranaki (iwi)|Taranaki]], one of several iwi in the region.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Taranaki tribe – Tribal origins |first=Te Miringa |last=Hōhaia |url= https://teara.govt.nz/en/taranaki-tribe/page-1 |encyclopedia=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand|Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=1 March 2017 |access-date=15 May 2023}}</ref> The Māori word ''tara'' means mountain peak, and ''naki'' may come from ''ngaki'', meaning "clear of vegetation."<ref name="Reed">{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Reed |first1=A. W. |date=2016 |title=Taranaki |encyclopedia=Māori Place Names: Their Meanings and Origins |others=Revised by Peter Dowling. |edition=4th |publisher=Oratia Media |isbn=978-0-947506-52-0 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=3G0vEAAAQBAJ&dq=Reed+taranaki+ngaki&pg=PT82 |language=en |access-date=19 May 2023 |archive-date=9 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509204816/https://books.google.com/books?id=3G0vEAAAQBAJ&dq=Reed+taranaki+ngaki&pg=PT82 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was also named {{Lang|Mi|Pukehaupapa}} ("ice mountain") and {{Lang|Mi|Pukeonaki}} ("hill of Naki") by iwi who lived in the region in "ancient times".<ref name="Reed"/><ref name="TeAra">{{cite encyclopedia| url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/taranaki-region/page-3| title=Taranaki Region – The mountain| encyclopedia=Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand| first=Ron| last=Lambert| date=13 July 2012| access-date=3 April 2016| archive-date=22 March 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322180143/http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/taranaki-region/page-3| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/78445421/history-reveals-taranakis-peak-was-once-known-by-a-different-name| title=History reveals Taranaki's peak was once known by a different name| first=Deena| last=Coster| newspaper=Taranaki Daily News| date=1 April 2016| access-date=3 April 2016| archive-date=23 July 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723022731/http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/78445421/History-reveals-Taranakis-peak-was-once-known-by-a-different-name |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[James Cook|Captain Cook]] named it Mount Egmont on 11 January 1770 after [[John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont]],<ref>{{Cite book |title= From Tasman To Marsden: A History of Northern New Zealand from 1642 to 1818 |first=Robert |last=McNab |year=1914 |chapter=Chapter IV. – Cook completes his survey, 1769 and 1770 |page=48 |publisher=J. Wilkie & Co. |location=Dunedin |url= https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/name-101193.html |chapter-url= https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-McNTasm-t1-body-d4.html}}</ref> a former [[First Lord of the Admiralty]] who had supported the concept of an oceanic search for ''[[Terra Australis Incognita]]''. Cook described it as "of a prodigious height and its top cover'd with everlasting snow," surrounded by a "flat country ... which afforded a very good aspect, being clothed with wood and [[wikt:verdure|verdure]]".<ref>{{cite book |title= The Journals of Captain James Cook on His Voyages of Discovery, vol. I: The Voyage of the Endeavour 1768–1771 | pages =232–233 |editor=Beaglehole, J.C. | editor-link=John Cawte Beaglehole| year =1968 | publisher =Cambridge University Press | oclc=223185477}}</ref>

When the French explorer [[Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne]] saw the mountain on 25 March 1772 he named it {{Lang|fr|Pic Mascarin}}. He was unaware of Cook's earlier visit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://history-nz.org/discovery4.html|title=The discovery of New Zealand – Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne|author=Whitmore, Robbie|access-date=31 May 2010|archive-date=7 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807214143/http://history-nz.org/discovery4.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

It appeared as Mount Egmont on maps until 29 May 1986, when the name officially became "Mount Taranaki or Mount Egmont"<ref>{{cite web |title=NZGB Gazetteer |url=https://gazetteer.linz.govt.nz/place/3830 |website=gazetteer.linz.govt.nz |access-date=1 January 2023 |archive-date=27 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127081237/https://gazetteer.linz.govt.nz/place/3830 |url-status=live }}</ref> following a decision by [[Minister of Lands (New Zealand)|the Minister of Lands]], [[Koro Wētere]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=Notice of Decision of Minister of Lands Re Assigning of Place Name |url=http://www.nzlii.org/nz/other/nz_gazette/1986/84.pdf |journal=[[New Zealand Gazette]] |volume=84 |date=29 May 1986 |pages=2341–2342 |via=[[New Zealand Legal Information Institute]] |access-date=7 August 2021 |archive-date=7 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807054708/http://www.nzlii.org/nz/other/nz_gazette/1986/84.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.linz.govt.nz/placenames/consultation-decisions/a-to-z/honokawa/report/index.aspx|title=Honokawa and Whanokao Place Name Proposal Report|publisher=Land Information New Zealand |date=2009 |access-date=29 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524133012/http://www.linz.govt.nz/placenames/consultation-decisions/a-to-z/honokawa/report/index.aspx|archive-date=24 May 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Egmont name no longer applies to the national park that surrounds the peak, but some geologists still refer to the peak as the Egmont Volcano.<ref>{{cite web |title=Egmont (Taranaki) |url= https://volcano.oregonstate.edu/egmont-taranaki |website=Volcano World |publisher=Oregon State University |date=7 October 2010 |access-date=13 April 2025}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=April 2025}}

As part of the [[Treaty of Waitangi claims and settlements|Treaty of Waitangi settlement]] with Ngā Iwi o Taranaki, a group of tribes in the region,{{Efn|Ngā iwi o Taranaki refers literally to 'the tribes of Taranaki', and is a collective of the eight tribes, [[Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi]], [[Ngāruahine]], [[Ngāti Maru (Taranaki)|Ngāti Maru]], [[Ngāti Mutunga]], [[Ngāti Ruanui]], [[Ngāti Tama]], [[Taranaki Iwi]] and [[Te Āti Awa]]|name=iwi-list}} the mountain was officially renamed ''Taranaki Maunga''.<ref name=No_more>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Robin |date=31 March 2023 |title='No more Egmont' – Taranaki Maunga officially welcomed at treaty settlement |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/487103/no-more-egmont-taranaki-maunga-officially-welcomed-at-treaty-settlement |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=[[RNZ]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/117865581/egmont-out-taranaki-maunga-in-agreement-reached-on-mountain-name-change |title=Egmont out, Taranaki Maunga in: agreement reached on mountain name change |first=Deena |last=Coster |date=2 December 2019 |newspaper=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en |access-date=7 August 2021 |archive-date=7 August 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210807033625/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/117865581/egmont-out-taranaki-maunga-in-agreement-reached-on-mountain-name-change |url-status=live }}</ref> The settlement was initialled on 31 March 2023,<ref name=No_more/> and ratified by the iwi of Taranaki.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/496592/taranaki-maunga-deal-gets-popular-tick | title=Taranaki Maunga deal gets popular tick | date=25 August 2023| access-date=27 August 2023| first=Craig| last=Ashworth}}</ref> The official name changed to ''Taranaki Maunga'' on 1 April 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Notice of a Discontinued Crown Protected Area Name, New Crown Protected Area Name and Altered and Confirmed Geographic Names for the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Act 2025 |url= https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2025-ln1347 |website=New Zealand Gazette |date=2 April 2025 |access-date=11 April 2025}}</ref>

Some iwi in the region had referred to the mountain as ''Taranaki Mounga'' rather than ''Taranaki Maunga'', per the local Māori dialect.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://taranakimounga.nz/vision-objectives-timeframes/faqs/|title=Taranaki Mounga FAQs|access-date=13 April 2023|archive-date=13 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413061148/https://taranakimounga.nz/vision-objectives-timeframes/faqs/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Geology ==
Mount Taranaki is situated in the sedimentary [[Taranaki Basin]] and is part of the Taranaki Volcanic Lineament which has had a {{convert|3|cm/yr|abbr=on}} north to south migration over the last 1.75 million years.<ref name="Cronin2021"/>{{rp|pp=458–9}} A [[Wadati–Benioff zone]] exists at about {{convert|200|km|abbr=on}} depth and the volcano's [[magma]] has the geochemical features of an [[Volcanic arc|arc volcano]].<ref name=Shane2023>{{cite journal| title=Priming and eruption of andesite magmas at Taranaki volcano recorded in plagioclase phenocrysts| journal=Bulletin of Volcanology| year=2023| volume=85| number=47 | doi=10.1007/s00445-023-01661-0 | first1=Phil | last1=Shane |first2=Fidel| last2=Costa| first3=Shane| last3=Cronin| first4=Claudine| last4=Stirling| first5=Malcolm| last5=Reid| page=47| doi-access=free| bibcode=2023BVol...85...47S| hdl=2292/66169| hdl-access=free}}</ref>{{rp|2}} Under the volcano itself there is high heat flow with only about {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}} crustal thickness although this rapidly normalises for continental crust to {{convert|35|km|abbr=on}} east of the volcano and {{convert|25|km|abbr=on}} to the west.<ref name=Shane2023/>{{rp|2–3}}

=== Older volcanoes in the area ===
Mount Taranaki is one of four closely associated [[Quaternary]] volcanoes in Taranaki province that have erupted from [[andesite]] [[magma]]s that have not extensively assimilated enriched crust unlike the cone volcanos of the [[North Island Volcanic Plateau]].<ref name="Price1999"/> It sits on the remains of three older volcanic complexes that lie to the northwest. The [[Indo-Australian Plate]] is slowly moving relative to the [[magma]] source that feeds these volcanoes. This trend is reflected in Fanthams Peak, the newer secondary cone on the southeast side of Taranaki, which is named after Fanny Fantham, who in 1887 was the first European woman to climb it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoskin |first=Sorrel |date=12 April 2005 |title=Fanny Fantham: Fantham's Peak, Fanny's Tale |url= https://terangiaoaonunui.pukeariki.com/story-collections/taranaki-stories/fanny-fantham-fantham-s-peak-fanny-s-tale/ |publisher=[[Puke Ariki]] |access-date=14 April 2025}}</ref>

The oldest volcanic remnants consist of a series of lava plugs: Paritutu Rock (156 metres), which forms part of [[New Plymouth]]'s harbour, and the [[Sugar Loaf Islands]] close offshore. These have been dated at 1.75 million years.<ref name="Cronin2021">{{cite journal|first1=Shane J. |last1=Cronin|first2= Anke V. |last2=Zernack |first3= Ingrid A. |last3=Ukstins |first4= Michael B. |last4=Turner |first5= Rafael |last5=Torres-Orozco |first6= Robert B. |last6=Stewart |first7= Ian E. M. |last7=Smith|first8= Jonathan N. |last8=Procter|first9= Richard |last9=Price|first10= Thomas |last10=Platz|first11= Michael |last11=Petterson |first12= Vince E. |last12=Neall|first13= Garry S. |last13= McDonald|first14= Geoffrey A. |last14=Lerner |first15= Magret |last15=Damaschcke |first16= Mark S. |last16=Bebbington |year=2021 |title= The geological history and hazards of a long-lived stratovolcano, Mt. Taranaki, New Zealand |journal= New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics |volume= 64|issue=2–3|pages=456–478| doi= 10.1080/00288306.2021.1895231 |doi-access= free |bibcode=2021NZJGG..64..456C |url= http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/529998/1/The%20geological%20history%20and%20hazards%20of%20a%20long%20lived%20stratovolcano%20Mt%20Taranaki%20New%20Zealand.pdf }}</ref>{{rp|459}}

On the coast, 15 kilometres southwest of New Plymouth is the [[Kaitake Range]] (682 metres), last active over 500,000 years ago.<ref name="Cronin2021" />{{rp|459}}

Nearest to Taranaki is the [[Pouākai Range]]. Pouākai may have originated around the same time as Kaitake but remained active until about 210,000&nbsp;years ago.<ref name="Cronin2021" />{{rp|459}} Much of Pouākai's large ring plain was obliterated by the Taranaki volcano, the hills near Eltham being the only remnant to the south.<ref name="pukeariki" />

=== Volcanic activity ===
Taranaki is geologically young, having commenced activity approximately 200,000&nbsp;years ago.<ref name=Cronin2021/>{{rp|459}} The most recent volcanic activity was the production of a lava dome in the crater and its collapse down the side of the mountain in the 1850s or 1860s.<ref name="pukeariki">{{cite web |last=Winder |first=Virginia |title=Volcanic Taranaki |url= https://terangiaoaonunui.pukeariki.com/story-collections/taranaki-stories/volcanic-taranaki/ |publisher=[[Puke Ariki]] |access-date=14 April 2025}}</ref> Between 1755 and 1800, an eruption sent a [[pyroclastic flow]] down the mountain's northeast flanks,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/5763785/Mt-Taranaki-volcano-history-revised |title=Mt Taranaki volcano history revised |author=Leighton Keith |newspaper=Taranaki Daily News |date=11 October 2011 |access-date=11 October 2011 |archive-date=11 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011081340/http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/5763785/Mt-Taranaki-volcano-history-revised |url-status=live }}</ref> and a moderate ash eruption occurred about 1755, of the size of [[Mount Ruapehu|Ruapehu]]'s activity in 1995/1996. The last major eruption occurred around 1655. Recent research has shown that over the last 9,000&nbsp;years minor eruptions have occurred roughly every 90&nbsp;years on average, with major eruptions every 500&nbsp;years.<ref name="Price1999">{{Cite journal|last1 = Price|first1 = R. C.|last2 = Stewart|first2 = R. B.|last3 = Woodhead|first3 = J. D.|last4 = Smith|first4 = I. E. M.|title = Petrogenesis of High-K Arc Magmas: Evidence from Egmont Volcano, North Island, New Zealand|journal = Journal of Petrology|volume = 40|issue = 1|year = 1999|pages = 167–197|url = https://academic.oup.com/petrology/article/40/1/167/1572845|doi = 10.1093/petroj/40.1.167|doi-access = free|access-date = 11 June 2022|archive-date = 11 June 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220611124837/https://academic.oup.com/petrology/article/40/1/167/1572845|url-status = live}}</ref> Some of these eruptions may have occurred with very brief warning, of only days or less.<ref name=Shane2023/>{{rp|1, 14–18}} The mountain in the last 5,000 years has had 16 tephra producing events.<ref name="Mills2025">{{cite journal|last1=Mills |first1=S. |first2=J. |last2=Procter |first3=A. |last3=Zernack|first4=S. |last4=Mead |title=Stratigraphy and lithosedimentological properties of subplinian eruptions from Mt. Taranaki, New Zealand, encompassed by the Ngaere and Pungarehu edifice collapses |journal=New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics |year=2025 |pages=1–25 |doi=10.1080/00288306.2025.2454554 |doi-access=free}}</ref> However in the [[Holocene]] there have been at least 138 eruptions,<ref name="Cronin2021"/>{{rp|467}} and for about 4000 years between 23.1 and 27.3 ka BP that bracket two flank collapses had 28 tephra producing events, some with VEI greater than 4.<ref name="Mills2025"/> At least 228 tephra-producing eruptions have occurred over the last 30,000 years.<ref name="Cronin2021"/>{{rp|467}}

=== Eruption and debris avalanches summary ===
As the volcano's major event record is so variable in time, with some major debris avalanches with edifice collapse, being associated with an increase in frequency and size of eruptions,<ref name="Cronin2021"/><ref name="Mills2025"/> it seems reasonable for the summary to include the full debris avalanche record. There  are gaps in the ascertainable eruptive record around the start of the Holocene and little detailed study past 28,000 years ago.<ref name="Mills2025"/>  
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Summary of eruptions and debris avalanches
|-
! data-sort-type="number" width=95px | Date<ref name="GVPT">{{cite gvp|vn=241030|vtab=Eruptions|title=Taranaki|access-date=12 April 2025}}</ref>
! class="unsortable" width=95px | Years before 1950 (BP)
! width=70px | VEI<ref name="GVPT" />
! width=70px | Debris avalanche volume<br>(km<sup>3</sup>)<ref name="Cronin2021"/>{{rp|loc=Fig. 5}}{{efn|The large western Maitahi debris avalanche of about 240 ka is assigned to Pouakai rather than Taranaki volcano. This event does not appear to have been due to internal edifice failure but rather slipage on Pliocene marine mudstones.<ref name="Cronin2021"/>}}
! width=70px | Tephra volume<br>(km<sup>3</sup>)
! class="unsortable"| Comment
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">1854</span> {{dts|1854}}
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950-1854 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|Ship's observation<ref name="GVPT"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geonet.org.nz/about/volcano/taranakiegmont|title=About Taranaki Maunga |publisher=Geonet|location=Wellington|access-date=13 April 2025}}</ref>
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">1790</span> {{dts|1790}} ± 10<ref name="Cronin2021"/>{{rp|461}}
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950-1790 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|Formation of current summit summit half-sectioned lava dome<ref name="Cronin2021"/>{{rp|461}}
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">1755</span> {{dts|1755}}
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950-1755 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|Tahurangi ash, date tephrochronology<ref name="GVPT"/>
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">1700</span> {{dts|1700}} ± 50 
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950-1700 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">1655</span> {{dts|1655}}
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950-1655 }}
! style="background-color: #F90;" | 4
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|Burrell lapilli, date from tephrochronology,<ref name="GVPT"/> which is part of Maero formations 19 units<ref name="Olver2022">{{cite thesis|first=T.H. |last= Olver|title =Magmatic Evolution and Storage at Mt. Taranaki, New Zealand |publisher =University of Bristol|location =Bristol|year =2019|url =https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/400408142/PGR_submissions_Olver_Thomas_1851404_Corrections_Final_Submission_THO.pdf |access-date=13 April 2025|pages=1–399}}{{rp|56}}</ref>{{efn|The Maero Formation includes 19 units erupted over about 800 years by the present summit vent.<ref name="Olver2022"/>|name="Maero"}}
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">1590</span> {{dts|1590}} ± 40
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950-1590 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| 
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">1570</span> {{dts|1570}} ± 40
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950-1570 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">1560</span> {{dts|1560}} ± 40
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950-1560 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">1550</span> {{dts|1550}} ± 40
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950-1550 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">1500</span> {{dts|1500}} ± 30
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950-1500 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|Newall ash<ref name="GVPT"/> which is part of Maero formations 19 units<ref name="Olver2022"/>{{efn|name="Maero"}}
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">1480</span> {{dts|1480}} ± 50
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950-1480 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| 
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">1400</span> {{dts|1400}} ± 50
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950-1400 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| 
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">1340</span> {{dts|1340}} ± 40
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950-1340 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| 
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">1300</span> {{dts|1300}} ± 50
|  align="center"|{{ #expr: 1950-1300 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| 
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">1070</span>{{dts|1070}} ± 40
| align="center"|{{ #expr: 1950-1070 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| 
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">970</span> {{dts|970}} ± 30
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950-979 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| 
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">820</span> {{dts|820}} ± 30
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950-820 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| 
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">550</span> {{dts|550}}
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950-550 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|Kaupokonui tephra, date from tephrochronology<ref name="GVPT"/>
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">520</span> {{dts|520}} ± 150
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950-520 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| 
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">390</span> {{dts|390}} ± 40
|  align="center"|{{ #expr: 1950-390 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| 
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">150</span> {{dts|150}}
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950-150 }}
! style="background-color: #FC0;" | 3 
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|Date from tephrochronology<ref name="GVPT"/>
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">100</span> {{dts|100}} ± 40
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950-100 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| 
|-
|align="center"|<span style="display:none">-40</span> {{dts|40}} ± 75 BCE  
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+40 }}
| align="center"| - 
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|Maketawa tephra which has 8 layers distributed over about 400 years<ref name="GVPT"/><ref name="Olver2022"/>
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-150</span> {{dts|150}} ± 30 BCE
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+150 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-420</span> {{dts|420}} ± 30 BCE
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+420}}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-590</span>{{dts|590}} ± 500 BCE
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+590 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| 
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-1130</span> {{dts|1130}} ± 200
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+1130 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|Fanthams Peak (Panitahi), Manganui tephra which is a total of 7 layers distributed over about 2000 years<ref name="GVPT"/><ref name="Olver2022"/>
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-1190</span> {{dts|1190}} ± 40
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+1190 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| 
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-1250</span> {{dts|1250}} BCE
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+1250 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|Date from tephrochronology<ref name="GVPT"/>
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-1560</span> {{dts|1560}} ± 40 BCE 
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+1560 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| 
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-1700</span> {{dts|1700}} ± 100 BCE  
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+250 }}
! style="background-color: #F60;" | 5
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|Inglewood tephra,<ref name="GVPT"/> two layers the Lower and Upper Inglewood<ref name="Olver2022"/>
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-2150</span> {{dts|2150}} BCE  
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+2150 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|Korito tephra, date from tephrochronology, has 2 layers<ref name="GVPT"/><ref name="Olver2022"/>
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-2400</span> {{dts|2400}} ± 40 BCE  
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+2400 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| 
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-2450</span> {{dts|2450}} ± 300 BCE  
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+2450 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| 
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-2700</span> {{dts|2700}} BCE  
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+2700 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|Tariki tephra, date from tephrochronology, has 6 layers<ref name="GVPT"/><ref name="Olver2022"/>
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-2850</span> {{dts|2850}} ± 300 BCE  
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+2850 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| 
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-3250</span> {{dts|3250}} 
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+3250 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|Waipuku tephra, date from tephrochronology, has single layer<ref name="GVPT"/><ref name="Olver2022"/>
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-5120</span> {{dts|5120}} ± 50 BCE  
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+5120 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| 
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">{{ #expr: 1950-7500 }}</span> {{dts|{{ #expr: 7500-1950 }}}} BCE  
| align="center"| 7500
| align="center"| - 
| align="center"| 2.4
| align="center"| -
|Opua debris avalanche deposit
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-6050</span> {{dts|6050}} BCE
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+6050 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|Date from tephrochronology<ref name="GVPT"/>
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-7000</span> {{dts|7000}} ± 100 BCE  
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+7000 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|Kaponga-f tephra, one of 10 layers<ref name="GVPT"/><ref name="Olver2022"/>
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-7270</span> {{dts|7270}} ± 50 BCE  
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+7270 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| 
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-7330</span> {{dts|7330}} BCE  
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+7330 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|Kaponga-e tephra, date from tephrochronology, one of 10 layers<ref name="GVPT"/><ref name="Olver2022"/>
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">-7650</span> {{dts|7650}} BCE  
| align="center"| {{ #expr: 1950+7650 }}
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| -
|Kaponga-b tephra, date from tephrochronology, one of 10 layers<ref name="GVPT"/><ref name="Olver2022"/>
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">{{ #expr: 1950-14000 }}</span> {{dts|{{ #expr: 14000-1950 }}}} BCE  
| align="center"| 14000
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| 1.0
| align="center"| -
|Motumate debris avalanche deposit
|-
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">{{ #expr: 1950-23100 }}</span> Between {{dts|{{ #expr: 27300-1950 }}}} and {{dts|{{ #expr: 23100-1950 }}}}   BCE  
| align="center"| 23100
! style="background-color: #F90;" | 3-4.5<ref name="Mills2025"/>
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| 3.0<ref name="Mills2025"/>
|Paetahi and Poto tephras comprise 28 tephra layers that encompass the Ngaere and Pungarehu debris avalanche events.<ref name="Mills2025"/> Dating is helped by presence of a tephra layer from the Oruanui eruption of Taupo Volcano<ref name="Cronin2021"/>
|- 
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">{{ #expr: 1950-24800 }}</span> {{dts|{{ #expr: 24800-1950 }}}}  BCE  
| align="center"| 24800
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| 7.5<ref name="Mills2025"/>
| align="center"| -
|Pungarehu debris avalanche deposit<ref name="Mills2025"/>
|- 
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">{{ #expr: 1950-27300 }}</span> {{dts|{{ #expr: 27300-1950 }}}}  BCE  
| align="center"| 27300
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| 5.85<ref name="Mills2025"/>
| align="center"| -
|Ngaere debris avalanche deposit<ref name="Mills2025"/>
|- 
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">{{ #expr: 1950-34000 }}</span> {{dts|{{ #expr: 34000-1950 }}}}  BCE  
| align="center"| 34000
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| 2.0
| align="center"| -
|Te Namu debris avalanche deposit - dated between 34–37 ka BP by wood<ref name="Cronin2021"/>
|- 
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">{{ #expr: 1950-37000 }}</span> {{dts|{{ #expr: 37000-1950 }}}}  BCE  
| align="center"| 37000
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| 0.2
| align="center"| -
|Ihaia debris avalanche deposit dated by wood<ref name="Cronin2021"/>
|- 
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">{{ #expr: 1950-40000 }}</span> {{dts|{{ #expr: 40000-1950 }}}}  BCE  
| align="center"| 40000
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| 5.0
| align="center"| -
|Rama debris avalanche deposit dated by peat above<ref name="Cronin2021"/>
|- 
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">{{ #expr: 1950-45000 }}</span> {{dts|{{ #expr: 45000-1950 }}}}  BCE  
| align="center"| 45000
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| 0.2
| align="center"| -
|Kaupokonui debris avalanche deposit
|- 
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">{{ #expr: 1950-50000 }}</span> {{dts|{{ #expr: 50000-1950 }}}}  BCE  
| align="center"| 50000
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| 2.5
| align="center"| -
|Otakeho debris avalanche deposit
|- 
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">{{ #expr: 1950-60000 }}</span> {{dts|{{ #expr: 60000-1950 }}}}  BCE  
| align="center"| 60000
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| 2.5
| align="center"| -
|Tokaora debris avalanche deposit
|- 
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">{{ #expr: 1950-70000 }}</span> {{dts|{{ #expr: 70000-1950 }}}}  BCE  
| align="center"| 70000
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| 7.5
| align="center"| -
|Waihi debris avalanche deposit
|- 
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">{{ #expr: 1950-75000 }}</span> {{dts|{{ #expr: 75000-1950 }}}}  BCE  
| align="center"| 75000
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| 5.5
| align="center"| -
|Waingongoro debris avalanche deposit
|- 
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">{{ #expr: 1950-90000 }}</span> {{dts|{{ #expr: 90000-1950 }}}}  BCE  
| align="center"| 90000
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| 7.5
| align="center"| -
|Oeo debris avalanche deposit
|- 
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">{{ #expr: 1950-105000 }}</span> {{dts|{{ #expr: 105000-1950 }}}}  BCE  
| align="center"| 105000
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| 3.6
| align="center"| -
|Okawa debris avalanche deposit, age from pollen records<ref name="Cronin2021"/>
|- 
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">{{ #expr: 1950-130000 }}</span> {{dts|{{ #expr: 130000-1950 }}}}  BCE  
| align="center"| 130000
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| 4.5
| align="center"| -
|Motunui debris avalanche deposit
|- 
| align="center"|<span style="display:none">{{ #expr: 1950-200000 }}</span> {{dts|{{ #expr: 200000-1950 }}}}  BCE  
| align="center"| 200000
| align="center"| -
| align="center"| 3.6
| align="center"| -
|Mangati debris avalanche deposit
|}
[[File:Mount Taranaki, New Zealand.jpg|thumb|right|From [[New Plymouth]]]]

=== Hazards ===
[[File:Lahars at Mt Taranaki New Zealand.jpg|thumb|Remains from a lahar at Taranaki]]

Taranaki is unusual in that it has experienced at least five of its major eruptions by the method of cone collapse. Few volcanoes have undergone more than one cone collapse. The vast volume of material involved in these collapses is reflected in the extensive ring plain<ref name="Price1999"/> surrounding the volcano. There is also evidence of [[lahar]]s being a common result of eruption. The major collapse cycles have a potential maximum size of collapse of {{convert|7.9|km3|abbr=on}} every 30,000 to 35,000 years.<ref name="Cronin2021">{{cite journal|first1=Shane J. |last1=Cronin|first2= Anke V. |last2=Zernack |first3= Ingrid A. |last3=Ukstins |first4= Michael B. |last4=Turner |first5= Rafael |last5=Torres-Orozco |first6= Robert B. |last6=Stewart |first7= Ian E. M. |last7=Smith|first8= Jonathan N. |last8=Procter|first9= Richard |last9=Price|first10= Thomas |last10=Platz|first11= Michael |last11=Petterson |first12= Vince E. |last12=Neall|first13= Garry S. |last13= McDonald|first14= Geoffrey A. |last14=Lerner |first15= Magret |last15=Damaschcke |first16= Mark S. |last16=Bebbington |year=2021 |title= The geological history and hazards of a long-lived stratovolcano, Mt. Taranaki, New Zealand |journal= New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics |volume= 64|issue=2–3|pages=456–478| doi= 10.1080/00288306.2021.1895231 |doi-access= free |bibcode=2021NZJGG..64..456C |url= http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/529998/1/The%20geological%20history%20and%20hazards%20of%20a%20long%20lived%20stratovolcano%20Mt%20Taranaki%20New%20Zealand.pdf }}</ref>{{rp|473}} Such collapse debris fields have been found up to {{cvt|5|–|6|km}} beyond the coast.<ref name="Cronin2021" />{{rp|465}} Another major edifice collapse is expected to occur within 16,200 years.<ref name="Cronin2021" />{{rp|473}}

Much of the region is at risk from lahars, which have reached the eastern coast.<ref name="Cronin2021" />{{rp|466}} A volcanic event is not necessary for a lahar: even earthquakes combined with heavy rain or snow could dislodge vast quantities of unstable layers resting on steep slopes. Many farmers live in the paths of such possible destructive events.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}}

Although volcanic eruptions are notoriously chaotic in their frequency, some scientists warn that a large eruption is "overdue". Research from [[Massey University]] indicates that significant seismic activity from the local faults is likely again in the next 50&nbsp;years and such might be permissive to an eruption. What ever in the next 50 years, the probability of at least one eruption is between 33% and 42%.<ref name="Cronin2021"/>{{rp|473}} Prevailing winds would probably blow ash east, covering much of the North Island, and disrupting air routes, power transmission lines and local water supplies.<ref>{{citation| url=http://www.civildefence.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/publications/tephra-september-2004.pdf| title=Living With Volcanoes| work=TEPHRA| volume=21| date=September 2004| pages=41–43| publisher=Civil Defence| access-date=3 April 2016| archive-date=28 January 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128111832/http://www.civildefence.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/publications/tephra-september-2004.pdf| url-status=live}}</ref>

== Climate ==

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|collapsed = Y
|location = North Egmont, elevation {{convert|955|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1981–2010)
|Jan high C = 	16.8
|Feb high C = 	17.2
|Mar high C = 	15.3
|Apr high C = 	13.1
|May high C = 	10.5
|Jun high C = 	8.0
|Jul high C = 	7.3
|Aug high C = 	7.8
|Sep high C = 	9.0
|Oct high C = 	10.8
|Nov high C = 	12.9
|Dec high C = 	14.8
| year high C = 	
|Jan mean C = 	12.7
|Feb mean C = 	13.2
|Mar mean C = 	11.6
|Apr mean C = 	9.5
|May mean C = 	7.4
|Jun mean C = 	5.2
|Jul mean C = 	4.4
|Aug mean C = 	4.8
|Sep mean C = 	5.8
|Oct mean C = 	7.2
|Nov mean C = 	9.2
|Dec mean C = 	11.0
| year mean C = 	
|Jan low C = 	8.7
|Feb low C = 	9.3
|Mar low C = 	7.8
|Apr low C = 	6.0
|May low C = 	4.2
|Jun low C = 	2.4
|Jul low C = 	1.6
|Aug low C = 	1.8
|Sep low C = 	2.6
|Oct low C = 	3.7
|Nov low C = 	5.5
|Dec low C = 	7.3
| year low C = 	
|rain colour = green	
|Jan rain mm = 	456.8
|Feb rain mm = 	380.8
|Mar rain mm = 	432.0
|Apr rain mm = 	480.2
|May rain mm = 	603.1
|Jun rain mm = 	653.7
|Jul rain mm = 	697.6
|Aug rain mm = 	694.8
|Sep rain mm = 	675.7
|Oct rain mm = 	809.2
|Nov rain mm = 	555.4
|Dec rain mm = 	589.2
|year rain mm = 	
|source 1 = NIWA<ref name= NIWA>
{{cite web
|url = http://cliflo.niwa.co.nz
|title = CliFlo – National Climate Database : North Egmont	
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 20 May 2024}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|collapsed = Y
|location = Stratford Mtn House, elevation {{convert|846|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1981–2010)
|Jan high C = 	18.0
|Feb high C = 	18.4
|Mar high C = 	15.8
|Apr high C = 	12.5
|May high C = 	10.1
|Jun high C = 	7.6
|Jul high C = 	6.7
|Aug high C = 	7.6
|Sep high C = 	9.4
|Oct high C = 	11.7
|Nov high C = 	13.7
|Dec high C = 	16.2
| year high C = 	
|Jan mean C = 	13.0
|Feb mean C = 	13.5
|Mar mean C = 	11.6
|Apr mean C = 	8.9
|May mean C = 	7.0
|Jun mean C = 	4.7
|Jul mean C = 	4.0
|Aug mean C = 	4.6
|Sep mean C = 	6.0
|Oct mean C = 	7.6
|Nov mean C = 	9.3
|Dec mean C = 	11.6
| year mean C = 	
|Jan low C = 	8.0
|Feb low C = 	8.7
|Mar low C = 	7.4
|Apr low C = 	5.3
|May low C = 	3.9
|Jun low C = 	1.8
|Jul low C = 	1.2
|Aug low C = 	1.6
|Sep low C = 	2.6
|Oct low C = 	3.6
|Nov low C = 	4.9
|Dec low C = 	7.0
| year low C = 	
|rain colour = green	
|Jan rain mm = 	376.1
|Feb rain mm = 	284.2
|Mar rain mm = 	384.3
|Apr rain mm = 	495.4
|May rain mm = 	651.1
|Jun rain mm = 	573.6
|Jul rain mm = 	688.3
|Aug rain mm = 	595.5
|Sep rain mm = 	572.0
|Oct rain mm = 	542.4
|Nov rain mm = 	437.2
|Dec rain mm = 	480.6
|year rain mm = 	
|source 1 = NIWA<ref>
{{cite web
|url = http://cliflo.niwa.co.nz
|title = CliFlo – National Climate Database : Stratford Mtn House	
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 20 May 2024}}</ref>
}}

== Māori mythology ==
[[Image:Taranaki daybreak.jpg|thumb|Taranaki at daybreak 2008]]

According to Māori mythology,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia| url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/ngati-tuwharetoa/5| title=Ngāti Tūwharetoa – Mountains and lakes| first=Martin| last=Wikaira| date=22 September 2012| encyclopedia=Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand| access-date=7 May 2010| archive-date=21 July 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721101104/http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/ngati-tuwharetoa/5| url-status=live}}</ref> Taranaki once resided in the middle of the North Island, with all the other New Zealand volcanoes. The beautiful [[Pihanga]] was coveted by all the mountains, and a great battle broke out between them.{{Efn|Some versions of the myth have [[Mount Ruapehu]] as the maid, instead of Pihanga.<ref name="tearawrua">{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/ruapehu-mount/page-3|title=Maori Legend of Mounts Ruapehu and Taranaki (Egmont)|encyclopedia=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand|publisher=Government of New Zealand|access-date=2014-01-11|archive-date=11 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111175805/http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/ruapehu-mount/page-3|url-status=live}}</ref>|name="ruapehymyth"}} [[Mount Tongariro|Tongariro]] eventually won the day,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kingcountry.co.nz/taranaki.html|title=Taranaki Region of New Zealand|access-date=2014-01-11|archive-date=14 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100514041915/http://www.kingcountry.co.nz/taranaki.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> inflicted great wounds on the side of Taranaki, and causing him to flee. Taranaki headed westwards, following Te Toka a Rahotu (the Rock of [[Rahotu]]) and forming the deep gorges of the [[Whanganui River]],<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.macalpineguides.com/mttaranaki.html| title=Taranaki – Gliding Peak| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714012215/http://www.macalpineguides.com/mttaranaki.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=14 July 2011}}</ref> paused for a while, creating the depression that formed the [[Ngaere swamp]], then heading north. Further progress was blocked by the [[Pouākai Range]]s, and as the sun came up Taranaki became petrified in his current location. When Taranaki conceals himself with rainclouds, he is said to be crying for his lost love, and during spectacular sunsets, he is said to be displaying himself to her.<ref name="tearawrua" /> In turn, Tongariro's eruptions are said to be a warning to Taranaki not to return.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}}

== History ==
[[File:Mount Taranaki 1896 SLNSW FL10386956.jpg|thumb|Mount Taranaki viewed from [[Inglewood, New Zealand|Inglewood]], 1896]]
[[Image:NEO egmont big.jpg|thumb|NASA satellite photo of Taranaki. The forested area matches the national park boundary fairly closely.]]

The mountain was [[Tapu (Polynesian culture)|tapu]] in [[Māori culture]] and at the time of European settlement not climbed by them.<ref name="Langton1996">{{cite thesis|url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/35462541.pdf|last=Langton|first=Graham|publisher =University of Canterbury|location= Christchurch, New Zealand |year =1996|title =A History of Mountain Climbing in New Zealand to 1953|access-date=3 August 2024|pages=1–337}}{{rp|56–57}}</ref>

In 1839 the mountain was climbed by James Heberley, a whaler who reached the summit first, and the Swiss-trained doctor and naturalist [[Ernst Dieffenbach]].<ref name="Langton1996" /> During his initial ascent, he identified the fast-flowing streams as being well suited to water driven mills.<ref>Ascent of Egmont. pp. 260–264. Ernest. Dieffenbach. Random House. 2008.</ref>{{nonspecific|date=May 2014|reason=Unable to identify a work that matches this citation}}<!--its likely somewhere in Dieffenbach, E. Travels in New Zealand 2 vols. 1843 which has been reprinted several times although with Dieffenbach a historian would likely also check his actual report to the NZ Company---> Dieffenbach was employed by the [[New Zealand Company]] to advise on the potential of land he explored in the North Island in 1839–40.<ref name="Langton1996" />

In 1865 the mountain was [[New Zealand land confiscations|confiscated]] from Māori by the New Zealand Government under the powers of the [[New Zealand land confiscations|New Zealand Settlements Act 1863]], ostensibly as a means of establishing and maintaining peace amid the [[Second Taranaki War]]. The legislation was framed with the intention of seizing and dividing up the land of Māori "in rebellion" and providing it as farmland for military settlers.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}}

The mountain was returned to the people of Taranaki in 1978 by means of the Mount Egmont Vesting Act 1978, which vested it to the Taranaki Maori Trust Board. By means of the same Act, it was immediately passed back to the Government as a gift to the nation.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1978/0038/latest/DLM21219.html| title=Mount Egmont Vesting Act 1978| work=New Zealand Legislation| publisher=Parliamentary Counsel Office| access-date=19 April 2016| archive-date=8 May 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508152609/http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1978/0038/latest/DLM21219.html| url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Waitangi Tribunal]], in its 1996 report, Kaupapa Tuatahi,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.waitangi-tribunal.govt.nz/reports/northislandwest/ |title=Waitangi Tribunal: Kaupapa Tuatahi report, 1996, chapter 11 |access-date=2 February 2007 |archive-date=20 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220193001/http://www.waitangi-tribunal.govt.nz/reports/northislandwest/ |url-status=live }}</ref> observed: "We are unaware of the evidence that the [[hapū]] agreed to this arrangement. Many who made submissions to us were adamant that most knew nothing of it." It cited a submission that suggested the political climate of 1975 was such that the board felt it was necessary to perform a gesture of goodwill designed to create a more favourable environment within which a monetary settlement could be negotiated.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}}

Because of its resemblance to [[Mount Fuji]], Taranaki provided the backdrop for the 2003 film ''[[The Last Samurai]]''.<ref name="TeAra" />

In 2017, a record of understanding was signed between Taranaki iwi and the New Zealand government that would see the mountain become a legal personality.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/100085814/mt-taranaki-to-become-legal-personality-under-agreement-between-iwi-and-government| title=Mt Taranaki to become legal personality under agreement between iwi and government| date=21 December 2017| first=Blanton| last=Smith| publisher=Taranaki Daily News| access-date=21 December 2017| archive-date=7 October 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007071102/https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/100085814/mt-taranaki-to-become-legal-personality-under-agreement-between-iwi-and-government |url-status=live}}</ref> It is the third geographic feature in the country to be granted a legal personality, after [[Te Urewera]] and [[Whanganui River]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Armstrong |first=Kathryn |date=2025-01-30 |title=New Zealand's Mount Taranaki gets same legal rights as a person |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czep8gg5lx4o |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250827095543/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czep8gg5lx4o |archive-date=2025-08-27 |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB |quote=In 2014, the Urewera native forest became the first to gain such status, followed by the Whanganui River in 2017.}}</ref>

On 2 December 2019, an agreement between the Crown and Ngā Iwi o Taranaki was announced that the mountain was to only be referred to as ''Taranaki Maunga''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/404717/taranaki-maunga-to-be-recognised-solely-for-its-maori-name|title=Taranaki Maunga to be recognised solely for its Māori name|publisher=Radio New Zealand|date=3 December 2019|access-date=3 December 2019 |url-status=live|archive-date=3 December 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191203055150/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/404717/taranaki-maunga-to-be-recognised-solely-for-its-maori-name}}</ref> On 30 January 2025, the New Zealand Parliament passed legislation recognising it as a [[Environmental personhood|legal person]] under the name ''Taranaki Maunga'', with ''Mount Egmont'' ceasing to be an official name. In addition, the Crown apologised to eight Māori [[iwi]] for confiscating Mount Taranaki and 1.2 million acres of Māori lands in the Taranaki region.<ref name="andrews-and-paewai-2025"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Graham-Mclay |first1=Charlotte |title=A New Zealand mountain is granted personhood, recognizing it as sacred for Māori |url=https://apnews.com/article/mountain-zealand-personhood-maori-taranak-590fca0f3d648cc0bf86d970782e954c |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=[[AP News]] |date=30 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130162330/https://apnews.com/article/mountain-zealand-personhood-maori-taranak-590fca0f3d648cc0bf86d970782e954c |archive-date=30 January 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>

== National park ==
{{Main|Egmont National Park}}

In 1881, a circular area with a radius of six miles (9.6&nbsp;km) from the summit was protected as a forest reserve. Areas encompassing the older volcanic remnants of Pouākai and Kaitake were later added to the reserve and in 1900 all this land was designated as Egmont National Park, the second [[national park]] in New Zealand. There are parts of the national park where [[old-growth forest]]s are found.<ref>C. Michael Hogan. 2009. [http://www.globaltwitcher.com/artspec_information.asp?thingid=95431 ''Crown Fern: Blechnum discolor'', Globaltwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213134120/http://www.globaltwitcher.com/artspec_information.asp?thingid=95431 |date=13 February 2012 }}</ref> With intensively-farmed dairy pasture right up to the park boundary, the change in vegetation is sharply delineated as a circular shape in satellite images.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Taonga|first=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu|title=Satellite image of Egmont National Park|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/25927/satellite-image-of-egmont-national-park|access-date=2021-07-10|website=teara.govt.nz|language=en|archive-date=10 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710235540/https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/25927/satellite-image-of-egmont-national-park|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Recreation ==
[[File:Pouakai Track 3.jpg|thumb|Taranaki from the Pouākai Circuit tramping track]]

The Stratford Mountain Club operates the [[Manganui|Manganui skifield]] on the eastern slope. Equipment access to the skifield is by [[zip line|flying fox]] across the Manganui Gorge.

The Taranaki Alpine Club maintains Tahurangi Lodge on the north slope of the mountain, next to the television tower. The lodge is frequently used as the base for public climbs to the summit held in the summer months. The various climbing and tramping clubs organise these public events and provide informal guides.

Syme Hut is located near Fanthams Peak. It is maintained by the [[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] and is available to trampers on a first come first served basis.

Weather on the mountain can change rapidly, which has caught inexperienced [[hiking|trampers]] and climbers unawares. As of 27 June 2017, 84 people have died on the mountain since records began in 1891, many having been caught by a sudden change in the weather. In terms of fatalities this mountain is the second most dangerous mountain in New Zealand after [[Aoraki / Mount Cook]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/94203073/missing-tramper-found-dead-on-mt-taranaki |title=Safety call after latest Mt Taranaki death| work=Daily News| first1=Kirsty| last1=McMurray| first2=David| last2=Burroughs| first3=Mike| last3=Watson| date=29 June 2017| access-date=3 July 2017| archive-date=2 July 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702151653/http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/94203073/missing-tramper-found-dead-on-mt-taranaki |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/94358489/adventurous-climber-uses-snapped-ski-pole-to-anchor-300metre-fall-on-mt-taranaki |title=Adventurous climber uses snapped ski pole to anchor 300-metre fall on Mt Taranaki| date=4 July 2017| publisher=stuff.co.nz| first=Mike| last=Watson}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
{{Gallery
|title=Sites of interest on Mount Taranaki
|width=180
|align=center
|File:WilkiesPools1.jpg
 |{{center|Wilkies Pools}}
|File:DawsonFalls Taranaki1.jpg
 |{{center|Dawson Falls}}
|File:Taranaki_view1.jpg
 |{{center|View of [[Mount Ruapehu]] from close to the summit of Mount Taranaki}}
}}

== Access ==
[[File:Clouds around Mount Taranaki.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Mount Taranaki 2015]]

There are three roads on the mountain's eastern slopes that lead part-way up the mountain with many more around the foot of the mountain that access walking tracks. The highest access road reaches the East Egmont plateau, with a viewing platform and parking facilities for the skifield. It lies at the transition between subalpine scrub and alpine [[herbfield]]s.

There are park visitor centres at North Egmont and at the waterfall [[Te Rere o Kapuni]] on the southeast side.

The eastern side from Stratford leads to the Stratford Mountain House, and the ski field.

There is poor road access on the western side beyond the bush line. However, a road winds for 10&nbsp;km through native bush over the saddle between Pouākai and Kaitake. Near the top of this road is the renowned [[Pukeiti (gardens)|Pukeiti]] Trust [[rhododendron]] garden.<ref>{{cite thesis|title= Turning over old ground. Investigating garden heritage in Aotearoa New Zealand. Masters thesis| first =Susette |last=Goldsmith |publisher =Victoria University of Wellington |year=2014 |url= https://openaccess.wgtn.ac.nz/articles/thesis/Turning_over_old_ground_investigating_garden_heritage_in_Aotearoa_New_Zealand/17007973/1/files/31461514.pdf |access-date =3 August 2024}}{{rp|75}}</ref>

== Transmitter ==
The Mount Taranaki transmitter is the main television and FM radio transmitter for the Taranaki region. It is located on the north-eastern slope of the mountain adjacent to Tahurangi Lodge. The first transmitter at the site was commissioned by the [[New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation]] (NZBC) in 1966 to relay Wellington's WNTV1 channel (now part of [[TVNZ 1]]).<ref>{{cite news|date=28 June 1967|title=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)|publisher=New Zealand Parliament|volume=351|page=1394}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of mountains of New Zealand by height]]
* [[List of volcanoes in New Zealand]]
* [[Volcanism of New Zealand]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Mount Taranaki}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVqQE9p0i5E&t=34s New Zealand Mountain Safety Council's video on the Mount Taranaki Summit Route]
* [https://www.virtualoceania.net/newzealand/photos/volcanic/taranaki/ Mt Taranaki photos]
* [https://www.geonet.org.nz/volcano/monitoring/taranakiegmont Taranaki Maunga Cam]

{{Egmont National Park}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taranaki, Mount}}
[[Category:Mountains of Taranaki]]
[[Category:Volcanoes of Taranaki]]
[[Category:Stratovolcanoes of New Zealand|Mount Taranaki]]
[[Category:Active volcanoes]]
[[Category:Pleistocene stratovolcanoes]]
[[Category:Pleistocene Oceania|Mount Taranaki]]
[[Category:Environmental personhood]]
[[Category:Holocene stratovolcanoes]]
[[Category:Egmont National Park]]
[[Category:Ultra-prominent peaks of Oceania]]