Lake Pupuke
Lake in New Zealand
title: "Lake Pupuke" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["auckland-volcanic-field", "volcanic-crater-lakes", "maars-of-new-zealand", "lakes-of-the-auckland-region", "volcanoes-of-the-auckland-region", "takapuna"] description: "Lake in New Zealand" topic_path: "geography/new-zealand" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Pupuke" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Lake in New Zealand ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox body of water"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Lake Pupuke |
| image | Lake Pupuke.jpg |
| alt | Lake Pupuke |
| caption | Lake Pupuke in 2010 |
| location | North Shore, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand |
| coords | |
| lake_type | Crater lake |
| mapframe | yes |
| mapframe-zoom | 12 |
| mapframe-point | none |
| basin_countries | New Zealand |
| max-depth | 57 m |
| cities | Takapuna, Milford |
| :: |
|name = Lake Pupuke |image = Lake Pupuke.jpg |alt = Lake Pupuke |caption = Lake Pupuke in 2010 |image_bathymetry = |caption_bathymetry = |location = North Shore, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand |coords = |lake_type = Crater lake | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 12 | mapframe-point = none |inflow = |outflow = |catchment = |basin_countries = New Zealand |length = |width = |area = |depth = |max-depth = 57 m |volume = |residence_time = |shore = |elevation = |islands = |cities = Takapuna, Milford
Lake Pupuke (traditionally known in Māori as Pupukemoana) is a heart-shaped freshwater lake occupying a volcanic crater (or maar) between the suburbs of Takapuna and Milford on the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand. The heart shape is a result of its formation by the linking of two circular craters – a larger one forming most of the lake and a smaller one forming the arm in the northeast. Separated from the sea by less than 200 m at one point, it has a circumference of about 4.5 km and reaches 57 m in depth. It is popular for recreational activities and the lakefront property around it.
Geology
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Fossil_forest.jpg" caption="Takapuna Reef's exceptional fossil forest was exhumed by [[coastal erosion]] when the sea level rose to its current height, following the last Ice Age, 7,200 years ago"] ::
Lake Pupuke is one of the oldest known features of the Auckland volcanic field, erupting an estimated 193,200 years ago.
Other similar craters in the Auckland volcanic field were either buried by later eruptions, or breached by erosion as rainwater collected and overflowed the edge of the crater. Lake Pupuke remains a lake because, unlike the other vents, its eruptions produced substantial lava flows; water can thus escape through cracks in the lava reaching under the crater wall, creating a series of freshwater springs along the beaches between Takapuna and Milford. The lava flow at the end of Takapuna Beach enveloped a kauri forest, producing an internationally significant collection of tree moulds, which has been called "New Zealand’s only example of a fossil forest preserved in a lava flow" and which "ranks among the best examples in the world." Some moulds have escaped burial by the boat ramp and car park built on top of the lava, and can be viewed at low tide.
A small scoria cone existed to the west of Lake Pupuke, which was quarried during European settlement.
History
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/The_old_pumphouse_at_Lake_Pupuke.jpg" caption="The historic pump house, now home to The PumpHouse Theatre"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Pupuke_lakeshore.jpg" caption="The lakeshore and jetty near the pump house"] ::
In 1894, a pump house was built on the shore of the lake to supply fresh water to the local area. This was replaced in 1906 by a second pump house. As a result of increasing demand, the water level of the lake fell and water quality decreased. The use of the lake as a fresh water supply was discontinued in 1944 when new supplies were sourced from reservoirs in the Waitākere Ranges. The second pump house has become a Category II protected building under the New Zealand Historic Places Trust in 1983. The building is now home to The PumpHouse Theatre with three performance spaces including an outdoor amphitheatre.{{cite news | author = Dionne Christian | title = An Auckland setting for an English story | work=The New Zealand Herald | date = 23 September 2005 | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/takapuna/news/article.cfm?l_id=396&objectid=10346832 | accessdate = 13 September 2009
Introduced Vallisneria plants dominate much of the lake floor.
Māori mythology
A Māori myth surrounding the lake tells of a tupua couple, children of the fire gods. After quarreling and cursing Mahuika, the fire-goddess, their home on the mainland was destroyed by Matahoe, god of earthquakes and eruptions, on Mahuika's behalf. Lake Pupuke resulted from the destruction, while Rangitoto Island rose from the sea as their exile. The mists surrounding Rangitoto at certain times are considered the tears of the tupua couple for their former home.
Human use
Close to the Takapuna city centre, the lake is popular not only with wild birds (such as shags) but with picnickers, paddlers, kayakers,{{cite news | author = Estelle Sarney | title = Milford – Lake placid | work=The New Zealand Herald | date = 31 March 2007 | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/city-style-real-estate/news/article.cfm?c_id=148&objectid=10432152 | accessdate = 13 September 2009 | author = | title = Windsurfin' safari gives young their water wings | work=The New Zealand Herald | date = 13 January 2006 | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lakes/news/article.cfm?c_id=245&objectid=10363479 | accessdate = 13 September 2009 | author = Peter Jessup | title = Free diving: Breath taking | work=The New Zealand Herald | date = 17 December 2004 | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/diving/news/article.cfm?c_id=33&objectid=9003585 | accessdate = 13 September 2009 | author = JENNI RUTHERFORD | title = College Sport: Crews poised to raise splash on Lake Karapiro | work=The New Zealand Herald | date = 6 March 2002 | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/college-sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=153&objectid=1140290 | accessdate = 13 September 2009 | author = | title = Sails from a bygone era | work=The New Zealand Herald | date = 27 January 2001 | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz-herald-auckland-anniversary-regatta/news/article.cfm?c_id=743&objectid=169917 | accessdate = 13 September 2009 | author = | title = Takapuna – an exclusive extract | work=The New Zealand Herald | date = 9 September 2006 | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/milford/news/article.cfm?l_id=393&objectid=10400369 | accessdate = 13 September 2009
The Auckland Dragon Boat Association runs an annual regionals race event on the lake, with 200m, 500m and 2 km races. The lake is the venue for Dragon Boat, Canoe sprints, Canoe marathon, and Waka Ama sprint racing within the Canoe Competition at the World Masters Games 2017 held in Auckland.
Lake Pupuke is suitable for swimming but is murky and contains thick vegetation, and there have been drownings.{{cite news | author = | title = Drowned man's body found in lake, mother in hospital | work=The New Zealand Herald | date = 2 January 2008 | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/drownings/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500867&objectid=10485014 | accessdate = 13 September 2009 | author = | title = Popular swim spots spoiled by bacteria | work=The New Zealand Herald | date = 2 July 2009 | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/water/news/article.cfm?c_id=362&objectid=10581993 | accessdate = 13 September 2009 | first=Eloise | last=Gibson
In 2007, recreational fishing has become more prominent since rainbow trout{{cite news | author = | title = Lake's new attraction – gold at the end of the rainbow | work=The New Zealand Herald | date = 7 May 2007 | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/recreational-fishing/news/article.cfm?c_id=75&objectid=10438208 | accessdate = 13 September 2009 | first=Wayne | last=Thompson
The crater wall has been quarried in several places, most intensely on the western side between Shea Terrace and Rangitira Avenue, where Smales Quarry continues to operate. A long thin lagoon called Quarry Lake has been formed there by flooding a former quarry area.
Lakeside real estate is expensive. Empty lakefront land is rare; one (almost 1,200-square meter) undeveloped parcel cost $2.7 million in 2008.{{cite news | author = Michelle Coursey | title = The most expensive handful of dirt in NZ? | work=The New Zealand Herald | date = 2 March 2008 | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10495563 | accessdate = 13 September 2009 | author = Martha McKenzie-Minifie | title = Tsunami phone alert system on way | work=The New Zealand Herald | date = 24 May 2007 | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10441468 | accessdate = 13 September 2009
References
References
- (August 2007). "The Volcanoes of Auckland". Mangere Mountain Education Centre.
- (2017-09-01). "High-precision 40Ar/39Ar dating of Quaternary basalts from Auckland Volcanic Field, New Zealand, with implications for eruption rates and paleomagnetic correlations". Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research.
- {{cite Q. Q118136068
- [http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0605/S00271.htm Geologist Bruce Hayward in ''Protecting North Shore City’s fossil forest''] (from a [[North Shore City Council]] press release, 31 May 2006. Accessed 2008-01-05)
- "Education Kit – Volcanoes". Auckland War Memorial Museum.
- (2008). "A Field Guide to Auckland: Exploring the Region's Natural and Historical Heritage". Random House New Zealand.
- link. (17 May 2006 (from the official website))
- [http://www.arc.govt.nz/arc/environment/hazards/volcanoes-of-auckland/volcanic-field.cfm#rangitoto Rangitoto] {{Webarchive. link. (13 July 2006 (from the [[Auckland Regional Council]] website))
- "Auckland Dragon Boat Association". Auckland Dragon Boat Association.
- (July 2025). "Dragon Boating". WMG2017.
- [http://www.northshorecity.govt.nz/Services/Environment/StreamsHarbourLake/Documents/lake-pupuke/lake-pupuke-report.pdf Lake Pupuke Inspection Report No. KC7] {{webarchive. link. (24 May 2010 (from the Lake Pupuke assessment, [[North Shore City Council]], 20 June 2006. Accessed 2008-01-12.))
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::