The background photo is of Mount Ruapehu taken from the Desert Road. It is part of the Tongariro National Park.
For New Zealand Maori, the central North Island landscape is of deep cultural and spiritual significance. Legends handed down from generation to generation tell stories of how the landscape came to be.The three active volcanoes - Ruapehu, Tongariro, and Ngauruhoe - are considered such precious treasures that the local Tuwharetoa Māori gifted the vast area to the nation of New Zealand more than a century ago.Tongariro National Park was the first national park in New Zealand, and the first in the world created by gift from an indigenous people. It is recognised as a dual World Heritage Area for its outstanding natural and intangible cultural values.
