Motutapu Island

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Motutapu Island Home Bay Camp - Discover

The Motutapu Island has long been a favourite place for camping and picnicking. Home Bay was used as a naval base for territorial training during the Great Depression. At the beginning of 1915 there was an Easter encampment on the island, which was organized by the YMCA. More than 400 persons took part in the campsite and were housed in about 50 marquees in Home Bay.

The Patriotic League of Women's Committee organized a Christmas barbecue for the husbands' spouses and sons in the Home Bay on Motutapu Island on December 22, 1915. Some 600 persons took part, among them some returning troops. On December 15, 1916, another Christmas barbecue took place here, in which about 1,000 persons took part.

The Motutapu Island was also a favourite place for corporate lunches. The Auckland City Council had their yearly lunch there in early February 1916. At the end of February 1916 Home Bay was the site of a army encampment. The Third Auckland Regiment of Infantry walked Queen Street on February 25, 1916 and took the shuttle to their yearly Motutapu Island school.

The Auckland Coast Defence Infantry went to Motutapu for its twelve-month drill on March 10, 1916. At the end of February 1917 the Third Auckland Regiment conducted its yearly practice on Motutapu, as did the Coast Defence Infantry in March 1917. Motutapu, Rangitoto and other Gulf Isles were further strengthened during the Second World War to protect the port of Auckland from attacks at sea.

From 1936 to 1944, more than 500,000 pounds were spent on building army bases and army bases, subterranean munitions depots, observatories, streets and a Rangitoto dam. Motutapu defence comprised a 6 in. batteries of cannons, air defence, automatic rifle, radars and headlights. Army huts in Administration Bay have also been preserved and are now an outdoor education camp run by the Motutapu Outdoor Education Trust for schoolchildren.

New Zealand Herald and Auckland Star. Murutapu Island.