Legends
Tongariro's history is credited to Ngatoroirangi (Ngatoro), an ancestor of the Maori. Ngatoro was a priest and navigator who is believed to have been among the first to populate Aoteara (New Zealand). As part of the Ngati Ohomairangi tribe, he was forced to navigate their two great waka (Te Arawa and Tanui) overseas. They travelled from Hawaiki, the motherland of the Maori that is believed to be in Polynesia near Tahiti, to New Zealand's Bay of Plenty. Ngatoro soon became a powerful, spiritual authority (mana) in the new land.
From here, legends differ slightly between tribes and their storytellers in how the priest discovered important parts of the northern mainland.
Ngatoro had a slave, Ngauruhoe, who he took along on the journey down south. Passing through the valleys which would later become Rotorua, and past Lake Taupo, a great mountain appeared in the landscape - Tongariro (meaning 'looking south'). The priest decided to climb up to the top, trying to claim the land that he would be able to see down below. Surprised by the South Pacific winds at such altitude, they nearly froze to death. Ngatoroirangi either called out to his Gods in Hawaiki and/or his sisters, Kuiwai and Haungaroa, that had remained on Whakaari (White Island). White Island lies 50 km off the coast of the Bay of Plenty, being New Zealand's only active marine volcano.
It is believed that his sisters, Kuiwai and Haungaroa, conjured up a sacred fire in the form of Te Pupu and Te Haeata, two spiritual creatures known as Taniwha. They were sent underground to bring the fire from Whakaari to Tongariro's crater. Along the way, the spirits created what is known today as the Taupo Volcanic Zone full of geothermal activity. As the fire reached Tongariro's top, it brought the life back to Ngatoro. He turned to share the flame with his companion, but he had already passed away due to the strong and freezing winds. In memory of Ngauruhoe, the priest named the peak after him - 'Mount Ngauruhoe'.
Establishment
Tongariro is not just a great milestone for environmental protection in New Zealand - It is also the first area to be handed to the government by Maori symbolizing successful collaboration between settlers and tribes. Te Heuheu Tukino, the 5th of the Ngati Tuwharetoa tribe agreed to give up an area of about 3,000 ha surrounding the volcanic peaks in 1887. It was aimed to save and secure the land's cultural values as well as the tribe's prestige. In 1894, the Tongariro National Park Act increased the park's size to nearly 25,000 ha. The act also made it become a matter of 'public work' and 'under the control of the Governor'. Throughout the 20th century, several geological surveys gradually advanced and expanded the park until it reached it's current size of nearly 80,000 ha.
Volcanic Activity
Between 1855 and 1897, Tongariro erupted five times, and created the Te Mari Crater. Over 100 years later, the same crater awoke again and erupted twice in August and November 2012. From 1900 to 1977, over 45 incidents (eruptions, gas development) had been recorded at Mount Ngauruhoe. Although the area is considered to be relatively calm up to the current day, seismic activity is strictly monitored and provides data for early warning systems.
The most active is Mount Ruapehu, that has eruptions in a cycle of one every 50 years or so. The latest occurred between 1995 and 1996, after increases in seismic activity were recorded in the North Island.
However, the occurrence of potential crater lakes between these cycles are of great concern to officials. The reason for this is the Tangiwai Train Disaster that occurred in 1953. After a major eruption in 1945, a crater began to grow causing debris barriers to break down and give rise to an enormous lahar (debris flow) moving south. The mudflow hit the Tangiwai Bridge with force, causing it to collapse. Six out of nine train carriages crashed into the river, killing 151 passengers.
Dual World Heritage
New Zealand has three World Heritage Sites, Te Wahipounamu, the Sub Antarctic Islands and lastly Tongariro. In 1990, the park gained World Heritage status for its unique natural landscapes. Then in 1993, it became the first in the world to gain Dual World Heritage status after Tongariro representatives requested to nominate the park for its significant cultural value.