Mount Herbert Canterbury

Mount Herbert / Te Ahu Pātiki is the highest peak on Banks Peninsula, New Zealand, standing at 919 metres (3,015 ft). It is located south of Lyttelton Harbour and north of Diamond Harbour. The mountain’s dual name honours both a Māori ancestor, Te Ahu Pātiki, who was turned to stone after failing to return to his waka, and Sidney Herbert, a European figure associated with the Canterbury Association.

In the 1860s, Mount Herbert became the namesake of an electorate that existed until abolished in the 1870s. In 2021, a significant property encompassing Mount Herbert and nearby Mount Bradley was purchased by the Rod Donald Trust, following a crowdfunding campaign supported by The Press. This acquisition returned the land to public ownership under a charitable trust model, working with local iwi. Since then, efforts have focused on forest regeneration and enhancing accessibility, including the development of walking and mountain biking tracks that connect to existing trails in Orton Bradley Park. Notably, the Te Ara Pātaka, a 35-kilometre-long track across central Banks Peninsula, was established.

The climate at Mount Herbert is classified as dry subpolar oceanic, with winter months experiencing slightly more precipitation than summer.