The resting place of lingering breezes; L4D2

Maori named the island seen here far beyond Tawharanui peninsula Te Hauturu-o-Toi, the meaning of which is my title for today. James Cook on his astronomically initiated voyage of ‘discovery’ named the island Little Barrier, having named a larger island also near the entrance to the Hauraki Gulf, Great Barrier. The Waitemata River spreads out into the Waitemata Harbour, around the edges of which Auckland has grown from an early British settlement.

Hauturu is a nature sanctuary, which was finally cleared of all the introduced predators such as feral cats. As with a much smaller island called Tiritiri Matangi, there are no human residents, and permits to land are required if not going on an organised tour. Daughter J has gifted S and me a trip to Tiritiri, which we need to book.