{{Short description|Lava dome volcano on North Island, New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Mount Tauhara | image = Mount Tauhara Taupo-2548.jpg | image_caption = Mount Tauhara seen from Lake Taupō | elevation_m = 1,088 | elevation_ref = | prominence = | map = New Zealand North Island | map_caption = | map_size = 180 | label_position = right | location = [[North Island]], [[New Zealand]] | coordinates = {{coord|38|41|40|S|176|9|46|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_ref = | topo = | type = [[Lava dome]] | age = | volcanic_zone = [[Taupō Volcanic Zone]] | last_eruption = Around 63,000 [[BCE]] | first_ascent = | easiest_route = [[Hiking|Hike]] | embedded ={{maplink|frame=yes |frame-align=center |text=Map centred on Mount Tauhara that shows approximate selected surface volcanic deposits with [[dacite]] in purple, and [[rhyolite]] in violet. [[Rhyolite|Rhyolitic]] [[ignimbrite]] surface deposits are various shades of violet from eruptions of the [[Taupō Volcano]]. Clicking on the map enlarges it, and enables panning and mouseover of volcanic deposits name/wikilink and ages before present for wider volcanic context. The key to the shading of other volcanics that are shown (active in last million years odd) with panning is [[basalt]] - brown, monogenic basalts - dark brown, undifferentiated basalts of the Tangihua Complex in Northland Allochthon - light brown, arc basalts - deep orange brown, arc ring basalts -orange brown, [[andesite]] - red, basaltic andesite`- light red, and plutonic - gray. White shading has been used for postulated calderas (usually subsurface now). |raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Northern North Island Volcanics}} |frame-width=250 |frame-height=250 |frame-lat=-38.694444 |frame-long=176.162778 |icon=no |zoom=11 }} }}

'''Mount Tauhara''' is a dormant [[lava dome]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=241070&vtab=Subfeatures|title = Global Volcanism Program &#124; Taupo}}</ref> volcano in [[New Zealand]]'s [[North Island]], reaching {{convert|1088|m|ft}} above sea level. It is situated in the area of caldera rim overlap of the [[Whakamaru Caldera]] and [[Taupō Volcano]] towards the centre of the [[Taupō Volcanic Zone]], which stretches from [[Whakaari / White Island]] in the north to [[Mount Ruapehu]] in the south.<ref>[http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/TheBush/UnderstandingTheNaturalWorld/Ecoregions/en Matt McGlone. 'Ecoregions', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 21-Sep-2007]</ref> It is {{convert|6|km|mi|0}} east of the town of [[Taupō]], next to the northeastern shore of [[Lake Taupō]].

Formed about 65,000&nbsp;years ago, Mount Tauhara was not a violently explosive vent, instead slowly oozing a viscous dacitic lava. It is the largest mass of [[dacite]] within the Taupō volcano, whose material is 98% [[rhyolite|rhyolitic]].<ref>[http://www.gns.cri.nz/what/earthact/volcanoes/nzvolcanoes/taupoprint.htm Volcanic Hazards Working Group of the Civil Defence Scientific Advisory Committee, which includes scientists from the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences and the Universities, Number seven "Taupo Volcanic Centre"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006170713/http://www.gns.cri.nz/what/earthact/volcanoes/nzvolcanoes/taupoprint.htm |date=2006-10-06 }}</ref> Little evidence of its volcanic past remains today; the peak is covered in dense native bush.

There is a steep walking track to the top of Mount Tauhara, starting at Mountain Road. On a clear day, the summit offers views over the [[Volcanic Plateau]], encompassing the entirety of [[Lake Taupō]] in the southwest. The hike is relatively strenuous and takes about an hour and a half each way. The track is not well groomed; being slightly overgrown in some places. There is a spring near the top.

==In culture== In [[Māori people|Māori]] tradition, Tauhara was among the mountains in the central North Island which fought for the female [[Pihanga]]. After a battle won by [[Tongariro]], the other mountains decided to flee: [[Taranaki]] moved to his present location to the west, while [[Pūtauaki]] and Tauhara travelled north. However, due to Tauhara's sadness he moved slowly and by dawn had only reached the shore of Lake Taupō.<ref>[http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/Geology/WhenuaHowTheLandWasShaped/en Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal. 'Whenua – how the land was shaped', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 5-Nov-2007]</ref>

Tauhara is the point to which [[Ngatoro-i-rangi|Ngātoroirangi]], the high priest of [[Te Arawa]] canoe, and ariki-ancestor of [[Ngati Tuwharetoa|Tūwharetoa]], climbed when he first came to the region seeking lands for his followers.<ref>Grace, J. Te Herekiekie, (1959, reprinted 1992). "Tūwharetoa; A history of the Māori people of the Taupo district". Reed; Auckland, Singapore.</ref>

"Tauhara" is [[Māori language|Māori]] for "alone, or isolated".<ref>Reed, A.W. (1975). "Place names of New Zealand". A.H. & A.W. Reed; Wellington, Sydney, London.</ref>

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Mount_Tauhara-2549.jpg File:Mount Tauhara from Lake Taupo.jpg </gallery>

==See also== *[[List of volcanoes in New Zealand]] *[[Tauhara]] *[[Ngāti Tūwharetoa]]

==References==

<references/>

==External links== *[http://www.TeAra.govt.nz Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand website] *[http://www.gns.cri.nz Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences website]

[[Category:Taupō Volcanic Zone|Tauhara, Mount]] [[Category:Taupō District]] [[Category:Mountains of Waikato|Tauhara]] [[Category:Landforms of Waikato]] [[Category:Lake Taupō|Tauhara, Mount]]