Learnz 2001

Click for Great Barrier Island homepage

Background

Great Barrier homepage 

 

An Island Environment

Biodiversity

Geology and landforms

Outer Hauraki Gulf

Offshore islands

Wetlands

 

People and the Environment

Cats

Conservation

Meet DoC's Rebecca Stanley

European settlements

Goats

Kauri - a natural resource

Maori history

Minerals and mining

Shipwrecks

Weeds and plant pests

Whaling

 

Threatened Species

Black petrel pics

Black petrel facts

Brown teal pics

Brown teal facts

Chevron skink pics

Chevron skink facts

Kauri

Kereru

What is a lizard?

Geckos

Skinks

North Island kaka

Endangered plants

Updated: September 12, 2001

 

European Settlement

In 1933 settlers on the island lived and ate in nikau shanties such as this one at Peachtree Camp - Image: NZ Forest Service, DoC
In 1933 settlers on the island lived and ate in nikau shanties such as this one at Peachtree Camp

 

The steep hillsides of the western coast of Great Barrier Island at Port Abercrombie - Image: DoC
The steep hillsides of the western coast of Great Barrier Island at Port Abercrombie

Europeans settled Great Barrier Island in the early 1800's. The settlers started to extract and use the natural resources they found. The activities included mining, whaling, milling, kauri gum digging and farming.

Today DoC administers the land that was once used for these industries. There are many reminders of this once huge industrial phase of Great Barrier. The kauri dams at Kaiarara, the early copper mine at Miners Head and the whaling station at Whangaparapara are all historic sites. DoC's programme of work includes preserving these historical features on the island.

Today many people choose to live on Great Barrier Island for it's natural beauty and the life style it offers. There are around 1200 permanent residents on the island. Many farming families are descendants of original settlers. Most residents of Great Barrier Island live in the south around Tryphena, Medlands, Okupu, Whangaparapara and Claris.

For visitors the island offers a wide range of opportunities for walking, tramping, scientific study and outdoor education.

The Department of Conservation field centre is at Akapoua (Port Fitzroy) with a field base at Claris (Kaitoke) and Okiwi (Whangapoua). Staff can also stay at Tryphena and Whangaparapara.

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