Travel writer Ian D Robinson goes further in his most recently published book to show the Gulf as a treasure trove of history, people, landscapes, flora and fauna.
Hauraki Gulf is illustrated with more than 200 colour pictures taken by local photographers, along with historical photos from the Maritime Museum and Auckland City Library.
Robinson explores the Gulf’s mainland fringes as far south as Kawakawa Bay and out to the islands which form the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.
The book is divided into geographical segments, describing the natural and man-made environments. Words and pictures provide a glimpse into the lifestyles of the inhabitants, particularly the people and birds.
Especially fascinating are the ancillary sections of each chapter that delve into history. For example, the Navy’s association with Devonport yields the snippet that, because Britain and therefore New Zealand had a defence agreement with Japan, New Zealand was regarded by the US as a potential Japanese ally.
In 1908, commanders of the famous visiting US White Fleet made a secret reconnaissance of the Hauraki Gulf to see how Auckland would be attacked. Rangitoto Island would be captured and guns capable of shelling the city could be dug in.
Robinson dubs Waiheke Island ‘the island suburb’ outlining the lifestyle of art, wine and recreation.
He observes that the desire for land around the shores of the Hauraki Gulf and the islands is changing the face of life. ‘These days it’s easy to find architecturally designed escapes standing alongside humble tin and fibrolite baches, with the range of holiday homes going from historic huts on Rangitoto to vineyard mansions on Waiheke.’
The book ends with the Gulf’s conservation triumphs – Titirtiri Matangi, ‘the jewel in the Hauraki crown’ and Little Barrier Hauturu Island, prohibited to visitors without a permit.
‘It’s regarded by many conservationists as the most intact ecosystem in New Zealand and those involved in its protection want it to stay that way.’
Hauturu, Robinson writes, must be kept as a treasure house, a back-up disk in case the hard drive crashes elsewhere.
‘Hauturu is an ark, or as one supporter said, simply a safe place to put things.’
