Rangitoto Island Hauraki Gulf New Zealand 

The volcano on my doorstep….

When I first visited Auckland, some fifty years ago, I was absolutely blown away and astonished at the sight of a volcano rearing up out of the Hauraki Gulf. This is the site of the City of Auckland.  The volcano is called Rantitoto, which erupted out of the sea quite suddenly about 600 years ago.  Luckily for us Aucklanders, it is dormant, at the moment. It’s visible from anywhere around the harbour and from most high points of the city.  Much as I love Auckland, at the first sign of smoke coming from the volcano, I am off!!! Those high points, may or may not be, volcanoes as well!!! Some definitely are.  There are said to be quite a few volcanoes dotted around Auckland. However, they all appear to be quietly sleeping. Maybe this why New Zealand is such a quiet place. Shssss!! Don’t wake the giants.  Talk about living dangerously.  Also, I couldn’t believe that practically the whole of this magnificent waterfront was taken up with tatty container wharves and concrete silos, full of who knows what.

However, now Auckland is quite a different place. Gone are the small store front shops which once lined the main thoroughfare. Queen Street, where the only tall building in Auckland was the 20 storey Air New Zealand building, built in 1972. Here’s a comment I found from Auckland Libraries:

1 January 1972 The small whirlwinds which are occurring near the top of the Ferry Buildings are apparently being caused by the Air New Zealand building disturbing the air flow. How’s that?

My, my, what a difference now. High rise apartments, fancy hotels, rejuvenated waterfront , flash shops. And Auckland City has to be one of the cleanest cities in the world, green trees, pleasantly wide footpaths, and diligent sweeper uppers. Lucky me.