Historic Browns Island (Motukorea)
Motukorea/Browns Island is considered to be one of the least modified of the Auckland volcanic cones.
Maori settlement
Ngati Tamaterā lived on Motukorea (island of the pied oystercatcher bird) for at least six centuries. There were three pa on the island - the largest was on the summit of the main volcanic cone. Recent archaeological findings show the island was intensively gardened and fished. Today you can still see a well preserved stone field garden system, fish traps and middens (rubbish dumps).
European settlement
Motukorea was the one of the first European land purchases in the Auckland region. It was bought by William Brown and John Logan Campbell in 1840 from Ngati Tamaterā. They settled on the island and established a pig farm to supply the emerging mainland settlement of Auckland. When Auckland was proclaimed the capital of New Zealand as expected, they left the island to focus on business affairs on the mainland. Logan Campbell became known as the “Father of Auckland”.
Browns Island in the early 1900s
Browns Island is also significant in aviation history, with the Barnard brothers of Auckland carrying out what appears to have been New Zealand’s first glider flights from the upper slopes of the cone in 1909.
Public ownership
Brown and Campbell eventually sold the island and it remained in private ownership before being purchased by the Auckland Metropolitan Drainage Board in 1946. The plan was to build a sewerage treatment plant, but this was abandoned after considerable public opposition. Sir Ernest Davis bought Browns Island and presented it as a gift to the people of Auckland in 1955. While ownership remains with the Auckland City Council, the island is now managed by the Department of Conservation as part of its administration of the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park.
Aerial view of Browns Island
Today the island is a popular picnic destination and a favourite spot for birdwatchers - the threatened New Zealand dotterel has a breeding colony on the island, and oystercatchers frequent the shores.
Getting there
Browns Island is located in the Hauraki Gulf, a short distance from Auckland’s eastern suburbs. There is no regular ferry service to the island but it can be reached by private boat or kayak. While camping is not permitted, day visitors are welcome to explore the
volcanic cones and historic sites.