Tongariro
National
Park
is
the
oldest
national
park
in
New
Zealand,
located
in
the
central
North
Island.
It
has
been
acknowledged
by
UNESCO
as
one
of
the
25
mixed
cultural
and
natural
World
Heritage
Sites.
Tongariro
National
Park
was
the
fourth
National
Park
established
in
the
world.
The
active
volcanic
mountains
Ruapehu,
Ngauruhoe,
and
Tongariro
are
located
in
the
centre
of
the
park.
There
are
a
number
of
Māori
religious
sites
within
the
park,
such
as
one
at
the
grave
to
Te
Heuheu
Herekeikei.
The
summits
of
Tongariro,
Ngauruhoe
and
Ruapehu
are
tapu
(sacred).