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Updated: September 6, 2001 |
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 Pond areas have been established for brown teal as part of the island's restoration |
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Both Maori and European settlers have used the land on Tiritiri Matangi.
Maori from the Kawerau tribe used the island for many hundreds of years often as a seasonal food gathering station. They caught sharks and collected kai moana from the easily accessible western coast of the island.
After a time it was used as a permanent home with Tiritiri Matangi Pa being established at the north end of Hobbs Bay. Maori cleared forest, built houses, grew crops, and used plants from the island for food. The Ngati Paoa tribe later moved into the area and established the Papakura (Red Rock) pa. This was destroyed in the 1700's during conflict between the two tribes and Ngati Paoa left the island.
European settlers arrived in mid 1850's. The lighthouse was built and from this time until 1971 the island was farmed. Sheep and cattle grazed on open pasture land and only remnant pockets of bush remained.
When the lease expired the land reverted to the government and a restoration plan was developed. The forest would be restored through an intensive native planting programme.
Now the Department of Conservation administers Tiritiri Matangi as a scientific reserve. The many sites of cultural and historic significance are also maintained under the restoration project. Buildings are kept in their original state and other sites such as pa and middens are maintained as open sites without replanting or walking tracks.
