PLEASE FEEL FREE TO NOT DO THIS CACHE IF YOU HAVE DONE IT
BEFORE--I have placed the cache in a better place and its a new
cache.
The Ngatiwai maori (earlier known as Ngaitahuhu, a subtribe
of the Ngapuhi) arrived here in the 14th century on the Moekakara
waka (canoe) which landed at Whakatuwhenua (Goat Island beach; the
creek is the Whakatuwhenua Creek), by Motu Hawere (Goat Island) but
the commander of the waka, Tahuhunuiarangi, settled at Te Arai o
Tahuhu (Te Arai Point), about 15km NW. Being great grandson of the
first Manaia from Hawaiki, 52 generations ago, his mana extended
over the surrounding area of coast and sea from Te Arai to
Tawharanui. He later moved to Otahuhu, in south-Auckland. When
Tahuhunuiarangi was killed in battle at Otahuhu, they brought his
body back to Te Arai to be buried.
Some of the history of the area can be found in the meaning
of the name 'Goat Island'. Travel back in time some 120 years.
There were no roads. Almost all travelling was done by boat.
Seafarers knew the coastline with its many islands very well but
they could never be sure that one day, because of storm or
circumstances they might find themselves marooned on some desolate
piece of coast with no source of food for miles. The forests were
inhabited by birds but it was very difficult to catch enough to
feed the crew. So seafarers of the era of Captain Cook's
discoveries, introduced domesticated animals wherever they could.
To release these animals on the mainland made little sense because
the animals would diffuse away, never to be found again. But
islands would pen the animals up, so that they could be hunted and
caught easily. Some islands had a dependable supply of running
fresh water and lowland forest that could be burned. These were
suitable for cattle. But the smaller islands without fresh water
were suitable only for goats, since these animals don't need to
drink. Goats are so frugal with their water metabolism that they
can thrive on a diet of foliage without water. Hence these islands
were of type 'goat' or goat islands. When studying the sea charts
of New Zealand, one may discover that four or five Goat Islands
exist.
Remember that until the 1930s, coastal trade was done with
flat-bottomed sailing boats called scows. These boats were broad
and flat, in order to be able to reach the shallowest parts of all
estuaries by high tide, to take on cargo, where settlements began
(Warkworth, Wellsford, Matakana, and so on). But such boats were
not very seaworthy and had to be prudent in bad weather, hence
their need for food larders along the coast.
Goat Island's native vegetation has been burned in the past, and it
has been stocked with goats and pigs. The pigs however, were able
to escape by swimming to the coast, which goats don't do. The
island remained in Maori ownership until the Crown acquired it in
1971. Since then, the island has been allowed to recover, being
administered as an island reserve, belonging to the Hauraki Gulf
Maritime Park, which includes Little Barrier and the Hen and
Chicken Islands. Terns and gulls came here to breed in the months
before Christmas, but they have now by and large disappeared. The
island still provides a roost for pied shags over shaded Shagroost
Bay. Lately, petrels have taken possession of the island, and their
cries can be heard deep in the night. Little blue penguins also
clamber ashore to their burrows.
During the 1950s, the area was popular with spearfishers who
came from Auckland to catch their bag full. It depleted the area
quickly, so that by the mid 1960s, much of the crayfish, snapper
and paua had disappeared. Due to its uniqueness (clear water, open
exposed coast, accessibility and close to Auckland), the area did
not only attract fishermen, bathers and divers, but also
scientists. Through the initiative of Prof John Morton, Auckland
University purchased a coastal site from the Matheson family, who
retained all the land immediately adjacent to the beach. The first
buildings of the Marine Laboratory were opened in 1964, and under
leadership of Dr Bill (W J) Ballantine, the first marine biology
courses were started. In 1965 Prof Val Chapman suggested creating a
marine reserve to protect the research effort. It was a novel idea,
but it gradually gained support from the NZ Underwater Association
and the Marine Sciences Society. After 6 years of lobbying, the
Marine Reserves Act was finally passed into law.
The marine reserve is NZ's first marine reserve and was
gazetted in 1975. Its official opening took place in 1977. As a
'no-take' marine reserve, set aside for scientific study, the
marine life is fully protected. It covers a coastline of about 5km,
extends out in sea by 800m, and encompasses 5km2 or 500 ha.
The Goat Island marine reserve, the Goat Island Scenic
Reserve (Goat Island itself, 9.3ha) and the Leigh Recreation
Reserve (Road and parkings), are administered by the Department of
Conservation in accordance with the Conservation Act 1987 (marine
reserve), the Conservation Amendment Act 1996 (for the land
reserves) and the Resource Management Act 1991 (affecting the
entire reserve complex).
Goat Island bay has also a really great reef surf break, it
only works on a large swell which has to wrap around the island to
get into the bay, I first surfed it in 68 and several times since.
Its a fast breaking right hander that rolls for about 100 mtres
across a shallow rocky reef, can be real spooky at times,
especially on takeoff when the reef below appears only inches deep!
No place for beginners on a big day!
cache is a keyholder with camo attachment,logbook only,
BYOP,
Please use a fair bit of stealth when doing this cache, it can get
really muggly at times.