This panorama is taken from Moores Peak on the NW of the Mohunga peninsula. Motuhaku Island is SSW, Peter Island to its left. Wood Island appears in the NE in line with the Abercrombie Passage and in between is Kaikoura Island. In the forground just left of centre can be seen Oyster Island.
Photo- Don Armitage (copyright)
Motuhaku Island (on the right of the photo) is located off the north-western tip of Kaikoura Island and is privately owned.
It is to be eradicated of rats during the winter of 2008 at the same time as the adjacent Peter Island and Kaikoura Island are similarly eradicated.
Historical references to this island. Well, here's the start of a list:
(more precise details of the references coming)
- Charles Heaphy left paintings that shown Motuhaku Island. Images are available from the Auckland Museum Library. They are in Albums Numbers 1 & 3. From Album 1 see item 15, p8, sketchbook, page 14 a cave at Great Barrier Island. Also in Album 1, see item 34, page 12, and sketchbook p23, Wellington Head, Great Barrier Island. From Album 3, see item 61, page 6, sketchbook p1 Wellington Head, Great Barrier Island. One of the paintings shows all of Motuhaku from the hills above Nagles Cove. It is a stunning painting. He was an absolute professional.
- There's an article entitled 'The Summer Cruise of the Petrel, January, 1887' by Gainor Jackson based on the diary of Thomas Ryan of Blind Bay. The article is in 'Bearings' magazine Spring 1990, vol 2, No.3 p32..- also to be found in the Auckland Museum Library.
- I know there is material in the National Archives at Mangere relating to Motuhaku.
Photo Brent Baker Copyright Don Armitage Nov 1999.
Diary page with sketch of Wellington Head, 10 Dec 1847 Diary entry (pg 186) including sketch of Wellington Head from Mount Prospect on Great Barrier Island
Bambridge, William, 1819-1879 : Diary, Reference Number qMS-0122 sketch in ink, on sheet 253mm x 200mm. Manuscript Reference Number: qMS-0122-186 Link to National Library of NZ
A panorama of almost 180 degrees, from the top of Motuhaku. On the left looking NNE is the Mohunga Peninsula, Peter Island is right of centre across the channel, Kaikoura Island beyond, and on the right looks south across the Grey Group of islands. Photopanorama- Don Armitage copyright.
This shot is from Karaka Bay looking west- Motuhaku is in the distance with Little Barrier Island on the distant horizon. In the middle of the photo is Wood Island and Lion Island merged as if one island. It is low tide. On the right is Nagles Cove and the Mohunga Peninsula.
Photo Don Armitage.copyright.
Duke of Wellington, victor at Waterloo, and the
person after whom Wellington Head is named.
The following letter is by Auckland's Harbourmaster, David Rough, who reports on a cruise around the Hauraki Gulf, visiting Great Barrier. He gives sailing directions including notice of 'a very high and remarkable conical cliff' (Wellington Head)...
"We insert the following letter respecting the Great Barrier Island, addressed by Captain Rough, harbour master of Auckland, to the editor of the Auckland Times, " Sir, — Having seen, in a paragraph of the last number of the Times, that some interest was excited as to the result of our expedition to the Great Barrier Island, and elsewhere, undertaken by direction of his Excellency the officer administering the Government ; I hasten, with great pleasure, to give you a brief description of the places we visited, in the hope that any information regarding the vicinity of this settlement may prove interesting to your readers. "About twenty miles to the northward of the Waitemata, is the spacious harbour of Mauharangi, accessible and safe for the largest vessels. The shores of the lower parts are bold, wooded, and picturesque, and where the creek becomes narrow at the upper part, there are fine slopes of rich land available for cultivation. From the entrance of Mauharangi to the river Muta Kena, about fifteen miles farther to the northward, several islands face the coast, leaving a deep and smooth water, passage betwixt them and the shore. The northernmost of these islands has a harbour at its western side, where vessels may find a good shelter in easterly gales. The river of Muta Kcna is narrow, but deep ; in it the brig Bee was moored close to the rocks, and underwent extensive repairs. At a small bay, near the river, we made diligent examination of the appearance of coal, to which our attention had been particularly directed ; but in the opinion of the scientific gentlemen who accompanied me, it is not likely that much coal will be found in that neighbourhood. In the entrance of the channel between the large island and the main, there is a dangerous rock, visible at halftide, bearing from Point Tukatu Whenoa, S. by W. -I W. Leaving Muta Kena, we examined the flat rock, and searched diligently about Point. Rodney and the Little Barrier Island, but found no appearance of any wreck. In the deep bay between Point Rodney and Tukatu Whenoa, we found a fine river, accessible for small vessels, which docs not appear on the charts. " The Little Barrier Island is accessible at some points for boats, and fresh water may be obtained from a cascade at the north-western side, but there does not appear to be any anchorage or shelter farther than what is to be obtained from lying under lee of the high cliffs. " The harbour at the western side of the Great Barrier Island is easily made, by bringing the north end of the Little Barrier to bear about W. by S.; in entering, a very high and remarkable conical cliff must be kept on the right hand. This harbour is very extensive, the most sheltered part appears to be Nagle’s Cove, the first on the left from the entrance, where her Majesty's ship Tortoise is moored within pistol shot of the shore. "The copper ore is found in a high cliff on the sea coast, about four miles to the northward of the harbour ; and on examining the other side of the cliff, we found it came quite through, and in considerable quantity. The neighbouring rocks appear to be composed of coarse granite and limestone ; and I am inclined to think that much more of the ore may hereafter be found in parts of the island, from which it may be more conveniently removed. "The commander of her Majesty 's shipTortoise informed me of another fine harbour he had visited, more to the southward, called Port Hobson. The general appearance of the Barrier is hilly and rugged ; there are forests of Kauri timber on the hills, and some vallies said to be available for cultivation. I am, Sir, " Your obedient servant, " DAVID ROUGH. " Auckland, 27th Sept., 1842."
Source-'New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser' Vol. 1, Issue 27, 1st November 1842, page 2
