Motutapu Island - History

History

Motutapu has an occupation history that encompasses virtually the full span of New Zealand settlement. It was one of the earliest places inhabited both by Polynesians, and later by Europeans in the Auckland region. The earliest evidence for occupation of Motutapu dates to before the eruption of Rangitoto in c.AD1400. The eruption smothered Motutapu in ash and caused widespread deforestation, but also produced friable soils suitable for gardening. Archaeological deposits bracketing the ash suggest the eruption prompted a shift from broad spectrum hunting of forest birds to intensive marine exploitation and horticulture. Numerous kumara pits were later found by archeologists.

Following the eruption Motutapu is reported to have been visited by both the Arawa and Tainui canoes and was subsequently settled by the Tainui ancestors of the Ngai Tai. The Ngati Tai maintained rights of occupation from that time until its eventual sale with only minor incursions from other groups. The Ngati Huarere of Arawa descent claimed bird snaring rights over the kaka (native parrot) by right of conquest, and from the 18th century reciprocal fishing rights were negotiated with Ngati Paoa on Waiheke. In the 1820s many of the islands in the Hauraki Gulf, including Motutapu, were evacuated in response to the threat of Hongi Hika and the Ngapuhi armed with muskets. Many of the Hauraki tribes retreated south, and the Ngati Tai are said to have taken refuge at Maungatautari. Occasional ventures were made back to former territories in the gulf, sometimes not without consequence, as with when a local fishing party was attacked by at Motutapu by Ngapuhi with several casualties. From 1836 many of the evacuated territories were resettled, and the Ngati Tai remained on Motutapu until the northern part of the island was sold to Thomas Maxwell in 2015

Maxwell had lived at Maraetai with the Ngati Tai and was married to Ngeungeu the daughter of the principle chief, Tara Te Irirangi. From 1840-45 the northern end was leased out to James Moncur. The southern end was purchased by Williamson and Crummer in 1845, but subsequently granted to politician Robert Graham in 1857, with the island increasingly becoming a trip destination - Home Bay Wharf hosted such attractions as whale boat racing, greased pig chasing and hunting. The Reid brothers purchased the island in 1869-70 and retained ownership until 1943. A series of homesteads/outbuildings have been built at Home Bay, the first between 1840–57, and the present Reid Homestead was built 1901-3. A homestead was built at Emu Bay c.1869-70, occupied by James Reid and demolished in 1976.

Work began on the Motutapu counter-bombardment battery in 1936. In May 1936 roads to battery had been formed, and the Battery and Observation Post completed by June 1937, Guns mounted by end of August 1938, and a temporary camp established at Administration Bay in 1937. War broke out in September 1939 and the military population on the island went from 10 to 200, requiring the construction of additional buildings at Administration Bay and at the Observation Posts. Plotting rooms were constructed in 1941-2, and searchlights installed at Billy Goat point. The US Navy intended to use Auckland as a staging point into the Pacific and this led to the construction of deepwater wharfing facilities, and the construction of 50 ammunition magazines between 1942-3. The war ended in 1945, and within five years the entire complex had been abandoned.