Hector Mountains
The Tapuae-o-Uenuku / Hector Mountains are a mountain range in the New Zealand region of Otago, near the resort town of Queenstown and just south of the more famous Remarkables. For most of its length, the mountains run adjacent to the southern reaches of Lake Wakatipu, before extending approximately 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) further south, past the glacial moraine at Kingston on the southern end of the lake. On their eastern side, the mountains mark the edge of the Nevis valley, a largely tussocked area which saw significant activity during the Otago Gold Rush of the 1860s. Historically, the mountains were an important mahinga kai (food gathering-place) for Ngāi Tahu and other local Māori iwi, who used the area to hunt for weka and gather tikumu while visiting the region.
| Tapuae-o-Uenuku / Hector Mountains | |
|---|---|
View from Queenstown, with the Remarkables left of frame and Tapuae-o-Uenuku / Hector Mountains on the right. | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Mount Tūwhakarōria |
| Elevation | 2,307 m (7,569 ft) |
| Coordinates | 45°10′03″S 168°50′54″E |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 40 km (25 mi) |
| Naming | |
| Etymology | After Uenuku, a traditional atua of Ngāi Tahu, and after James Hector, New Zealand naturalist and scientist. |
| Native name | Tāpuae O'Uenuku (Māori) |
| Geography | |
Location in New Zealand | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Otago |
| Range coordinates | 45°17′35″S 168°48′47″E |
| Geology | |
| Formed by | Tectonic uplift / glaciation |
| Type of rock | Schist, Greywacke |
Many of the peaks in the range remain unnamed, a group which – until 2013 – included its highest point. Following a joint process between Ngāi Tahu and the Central Otago District Council, four new names were added to the region in 2013, including the adoption of the range's current dual name. This included the name of Mount Tūwhakarōria for the highest point of the range, as well as Te Karearea Peak for another prominent point as seen from Cromwell and Lake Te Kōhua for the small lake between the two.