Waewaetorea Island Recreation Reserve

The island became part of the Maritime and Historic Park in 1980 and today it is under the care of DOC.

Conservation work includes pest eradication as part of Project Island Song and a revegetation programme.

Māori settlement

Māori thrived in this island environment, which is seen in the density of archaeological sites. Sites on this island are characterised as headland pā, terraces, gardening lines and storage pits.

European settlement

A historic account of Waewaetorea is found in the records of French explorer Marion du Fresne’s expedition to the Bay of Islands in 1772. The French "Plan du Port Marion" tells us that Wawaetorea was where the two ships “Castries and "Mascarin" first anchored.

There are two headland pā worth visiting on this island. The southern one is to the right of Otawake Beach – you can see its deep defensive ditch. You can walk onto the other headland pā near the Orurua blowhole.