Doesn’t this island look inviting? This is Motuihe Island. It is also known as Te Motu-a-Ihenga in Māori. This translates to Ihenga’s Island.
Motuihe Island lies in the Hauraki Gulf. It sits between Motutapu and Waiheke islands. The island covers 179 hectares. About 18 hectares are coastal forest remnants.
Let’s step back in time to the 14th century. Ihenga, an ancestor of the Te Arawa people, visited Motuihe Island. That is how the island got its Māori name. Archaeological sites dot the island. You can see pā sites, karaka groves, and food storage pits. Te Rae o Kahu is a visible headland pā. It is east of Ocean Beach.
In 1839, William Fairburn bought Motuihe. He purchased it from Māori chiefs. He paid with items like blankets, axes, and pipes. Farming began in the 1840s. Norfolk pines and olive trees remain from this era.
In 1872, Motuihe Island became a quarantine station. This was for smallpox victims. The station operated for almost 50 years. It grew over time.
During World War I, Motuihe served as an internment camp. Count Felix von Luckner was a famous prisoner. He escaped in December 1917. He seized the island’s launch. Luckner sailed to the Kermadec Islands. He was eventually recaptured.
After World War I, the island was a quarantine station again. This was during the 1918 flu pandemic.
World War II brought more changes. Motuihe became a naval training base named HMNZS Tamaki. The base operated until 1963.
Today, the Motuihe Trust manages the island. They work to eradicate pests. They replant native trees. Rats, mice, and rabbits have been removed. Native species have returned. These include the North Island saddleback or tieke.
In 2008, a rat was found. A hunting dog caught it. This allowed the release of red-fronted parakeets or kākāriki. They came from Little Barrier Island. In 2009, fifteen little spotted kiwi were released.
Volunteers have planted many native trees on Motuihe. They manage invasive weed species.
Motuihe Island is a recreation reserve. The Department of Conservation controls it. The Motuihe Trust administers it. It is a popular spot for day trips. You can get here by seaplane or private boat. The island is known for its beautiful beaches.
Remember the island’s story. Māori history, farming, quarantine, war, and conservation have shaped Motuihe. It is a special place in the Hauraki Gulf.