Te Kōpuke / Mt Saint John is one of Auckland's many peaks in the Auckland volcanic field, and one of our most underrated cones if you ask me. Unfortunately it is obscured by housing these days, but a look at the Lidar-derived elevation model reveals its exceptionally round scoria cone shape. If you know Auckland's geography, you might be surprised to learn it is the source of the lava flow that built Meola Reef in the Waitematā Harbour. Until recently it was thought the reef was formed by the eruption of Te Tatua-a-Riukiuta / Three Kings but geochemical testing revealed that Maungawhau had erupted through an earlier lava flow from Te Kōpuke, obscuring it's true source.

Datasources

• Auckland Lidar 1m DEM (2013) (LINZ)