But, let’s bypass this small smudge on the island’s history and check out why this 60-hectare island has been placed under DoC care.
Just a short distance from Auckland’s eastern suburbs, Browns Island lies in the mouth of the Tamaki River.
Before reinventing itself as a swinery in the 1840s, the island was extensively settled by Maori. In fact, existing archaeological sites point to Maori occupation dating back 500—800 years.
Named Motukorea by Maori, three pas were constructed on the island; the largest on the summit of the main volcanic cone.
Transverse ditches, running across the crater’s rim, are still visible. So are the terraces, where whares and storage pits would have been erected.
On the south-east side of the volcanic cone, the remnants of stone walls—once enclosing vegetable gardens—are still visible. The whole island is dotted with vestiges of former campsites and settlements, and this is one of the primary reasons that Motukorea is preserved as a national taonga.
The island’s second significant feature is its birdlife. Meaning “island of the pied oystercatcher bird”, Motukorea undoubtedly once held a significant number of these waders.
They still frequent its waters today; however, it’s the breeding colony of endangered New Zealand dotterel that are considered most important.
Dogs are not allowed on the island, and the eradication of Norway rats and house mice has given the dotterel a breather from introduced predators.
With these coastal nesting sites protected, the dotterel now have a chance to multiply, and become the latest occupants of Browns Island.