Overview
Motukorea formed in what is now the Hauraki Gulf about 25,000 years ago during the Last Ice Age, when the Tāmaki Estuary and Waitematā Harbour were forested river valleys.
Motukorea erupted with a series of wet, explosive eruptions, forming a kilometre-wide shallow crater, and then transitioned into a dry, fire-fountaining phase that built several scoria cones within the crater. Lava flows spread over the land, extending 2 km to the west and south. Winds are thought to have blown from the southwest, forming a more substantial tuff ring on the downwind side.
As the ice caps melted after the end of the Last Ice Age, the sea level rose by 1.5-2 m above present-day levels. Rising sea levels eroded the soft tuff on the northern side, creating the high cliffs above Crater Bay.
Human history
Motukorea, meaning ‘island of the oystercatcher’, was a prized occupation site for Ngāti Tamaterā. It was perfectly located for fishing and shellfish harvesting and had several defensive pā sites.
In 1840, the 60-hectare island was purchased by Europeans William Brown and John Logan Campbell from Ngāti Tamaterā; however, after a few months, they moved to the newly established town of Auckland. In 1879, Motukorea was sold to the Featherstone family, and in 1906 to the Alison family.
The Alison family were shareholders of the Devonport Steam Ferry Company. During their tenure, Motukorea became a popular destination for ferry trips and picnics. Five of their coal-powered paddle steamers were dumped in the intertidal zone near the wharf and can still be seen today.
In 1931, the Auckland Metropolitan Drainage Board developed a plan to pump Auckland City’s sewage out to Motukorea for treatment before being released into the harbour, which was strongly rejected by Waiheke residents.
In 1995, Sir Ernest Davis (Auckland’s mayor, 1935-41) purchased Motukorea, which he gifted to the City of Auckland for a public reserve.