A city on fifty volcanoes

Start with geography

Two seas, one narrow neck

Auckland sits on an isthmus about a kilometre and a half wide at its narrowest. On one side is the Waitematā Harbour, opening east to the Pacific. On the other is the Manukau, opening west to the Tasman Sea. Two different oceans, a short walk apart.

For people travelling by canoe that is enormously valuable: instead of sailing around the top of the North Island, you carry your waka across the neck. The portage routes across the isthmus were the reason this place mattered, and the Māori name Tāmaki Makaurau is generally rendered as Tāmaki desired by many — a description of how contested it was.

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