Island Eats: What Grows Best on The Barrier
As residents of our unique community, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to grow our own fruits, vegetables, and even explore the wilds for rongoā Māori herbal extracts.
Community Mourns the Loss of Beloved Local Legend, Mike Brown
In a touching tribute, Aotea’s surfers gathered at Medland’s for a paddle out at 2 pm, as Mike’s journey from the island took flight for the last time. Photo / Facebook On December 23, the Aotea community lost one of…
The Best Internet on Great Barrier Island (Aotea)
From Pigeon Post to Stellar Satellite Internet.
Paddle boarder’s ‘terrifying’ Orca encounter at Shoal Bay
In an extraordinary display of wildlife ft. human interaction at Shoal Bay, Great Barrier Island, a paddle boarder had a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with an orca whale.
Tip Shop (Anamata) Goes Solar, Enhancing Island Recycling
The Tip Shop (Anamata), the island's recycling facility is boasting a brand new solar power system, funded in part by the local board and Auckland Council climate grants, marking a sustainable shift from their previous reliance on a diesel generator.
Tune Your Starlink So You Can Keep Surfing
Elon Musk’s Starlink has become pretty vital not only on the barrier, but for many off-gridders globally, offering impressive speeds but at a considerable energy cost. It’s not uncommon to look at your battery levels tanking, even when you’re not…
Why Do We Still Rely on Decades-Old Battery Technology?
Lithium-ion still dominates most of our battery-powered devices, even as other areas of technology have taken giant leaps forward, as Will Trafford explains.
Clearing Aotea’s Rusting Relics: Protecting Our Island’s Natural Splendor
For many residents and visitors to Aotea Great Barrier Island, the scattered remnants of old Landrovers are a nostalgic nod to a bygone era.
Herbs of Aotea, Great Barrier Island – no not that one
Above: Mānuka or Tea Tree. Photo / Sid Mosdell / Creative Commons Aotea, Great Barrier Island, is the rohe of local iwi Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea, and for centuries their ancestors have relied on rongoā, the traditional Māori medicine,…
Red-Eared Slider Turtles: A Menace to Aotea’s Biodiversity
Female Red-Eared Slider Turtles are usually a little larger than males. Photo / Rod Morris, Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai (1986) Red-eared slider turtles have become a concerning pest on Aotea Great Barrier Island, posing a significant threat to our precious…