This great maunga, Taranaki (2518m), is fervently respected by Māori and Pākehā for many reasons. My relationship with Taranaki started when I was 12 years old and first braved his summit. This seeded an enduring respect for the lonely mountain – and indeed for all mountains.
In the years that followed, my interest and passion grew. When I viewed Tara- naki's lofty summit from