History, past use of the site (Water Tower)

The island was purchased from its Maori owners in 1839 and developed as a farm. It passed to the Crown in 1872 and a human quarantine station was built on the northwest peninsula. This was active from 1872-1929 with the most use during the influenza epidemic in 1918.
There is a small cemetery containing graves of those who died during this and later periods (influenza, scarlet fever).

During World War I, the quarantine complex was used as a POW internment camp and it was from here in 1917 that the famous German Count Felix Von Luckner escaped (after only 3 weeks in captivity). 

The internment camp was subsequently used as a children’s health camp (1929-1940).

During World War II, the camp was converted and enlarged to become the naval training base; 14 Jan 1941, it was commissioned as HMNZS TAMAKI. Before the end of the war, 6000 men passed out of TAMAKI or 'the rock', as it was known.

The wartime establishment on Motuihe Island was in need of major refurbishment by the 1960s, but when the costs were reviewed, the Government directed that TAMAKI be relocated to an  Army facility at Narrow Neck, Devonport.  The base at Motuihe was closed in 1963 and most of the buildings were removed, leaving only the water tower, a house and some sheds.

However, there remains ample evidence in the form of mature trees, roads, terraced areas, gun emplacements, the wharf, sea walls and the cemetery (DOC, 2003b).

Of particular note is the avenue of Norfolk Island pines Araucauria heterophylla) and Moreton Bay fig trees ( Ficus macrophyllus), the grove of olives (Olea europaea subsp. Europaea ) and the stands of Norfolk Island pines planted along the isthmus. This area is historically very significant and provides a valuable source of information for interpreting Motuihe’s European history.

The campground is located on the former HMNZS Tamaki parade ground. This is a large, flat, open space above Wharf Bay and an average of 400 campers use the facility each year (DOC, 2003a).

(Refs: Torpedo Bay Navy Museum website & Motuihe Restoration Plan documents)

Maori Myth

The Discovery Of Weaving - Maori Myth

According to one tradition, weaving and plaiting came from a fairy women-- patupaiarehe -- Hinerehia, who married a human man called Karangaroa, a chief of the Maruiwi people from Motuihe Island . She worked only at night and on foggy days. At dawn she would put away her unfinished work, hiding it from the sunlight. This was the custom of the fairy people, as the sun would undo weaving and cause them to lose their skills.The women of Motuihe were anxious to learn Hinerehia’s skills but could not do so in the darkness. A priest -- tohunga -- agreed to confuse Hinerehia’s senses and keep her working after the sun rose. Hinerehia continued to work while the women hiding nearby learnt her secrets.