Krishna+Shah





· Motutapu Island is one of the Maoris’ first settlement areas.

· Before the eruption of Rangitoto Motutapu was home to many Maori generations.

· Ash flew over on to Motutapu as the two Islands are joined together destroying the Maori’s villages, farms, homes and all.

· After all destruction white people visited finding footprints of dogs and people.

· Europeans began farming on the island when the Maori owners sold part of the island in 1840.

· The Reid Brothers who were a Scottish family of farmers bought Motutapu in 1869. They built homesteads at Emu Gay and Home Bay.



 · At that time exotic creatures were introduced onto the island such as emu, deer buffaloes, ostriches, wallabies and waterfowl.

· Only the Reid Homestead still exists today on Home Bay.

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Copyright 2003 Motutapu Restoration Trust