Mount Cook - History

Mount Cook is steeped in history dating back hundreds of years, to when the first Maori explorers discovered the majestic and sacred peak of Aoraki, Mt Cook.

Some two million years ago, a relentless and endless battle began between two powerful rivals.  The pursuit for power pitted the resources of the Pacific crust against the Indian-Australian crust, resulting in rapid mountain building, creating one of the world's most spectacular alpine faults, the Southern Alps.

According to Maori legend, the canoe Araiteuru came to the South Island and was wrecked at Matakaea, Shag Point, on the East Coast, south of Oamaru. Remains of the cargo can still be seen today, taking the form of the Moeraki Boulders.

A group of survivors ventured inland to explore. Aoraki was a young boy, and liked to sit on the shoulders of his grandfather, a chief. However, as the first rays of dawn caught the party, they were turned into stone, and Aoraki, the highest member of the party, became the highest peak of the land.  Hence the name "Aoraki Mt Cook."

In the 1850's, Captain John Stokes of the survey ship Acheron sighted the mountain and called it Mount Cook in honour of explorer James Cook. Surveyor G.J Roberts fixed the height in 1881 at 12,349 feet (3,764 m).

In 1885 and 1887, the nucleus of the park was set aside as a recreation reserve, but it was not until 1953 that it became a National Park and 1987 when it was deemed a World Heritage Park. The park now occupies 70,011 hectares (over 270 square miles) and contains all but five of the 27 peaks over 3000m (10,000ft) in New Zealand. Altogether the region boasts more than 140 peaks over 2000m (6500 ft).

There are five major valley glaciers: Godley, Murchison, Tasman, hooker and Mueller. The Tasman Glacier, seen clearly from the main highway at the entrance to the park is 27km long and up to 3km wide, with its ice extending about 600m (2,000ft) deep in places.

The first attempt to climb Mount Cook, was made in 1882 by an Irishman, the Reverend W S Green and two Swiss guides. Although his party climbed to within 200m of the top, it was not until 1894 that the summit was reached by three New Zealanders, Tom Fyfe, Jack Clarke and George Graham, all of whom worked in the Hermitage area.

The battle of the two giants is still evident: uplift continues at about 10mm per year. However, the erosive forces of snow, ice and climatic extremes, play a major force in shaping the horizon. In December 1991, 10 metres avalanched off the highest peak, reducing the height to 12,316 ft (3754m).