AoteaGBI.news – Page 3 – Great Barrier Island News

Community News

Island Celebrates Spectacular Santa Parade 2024

This year’s Santa Parade on Great Barrier Island was a resounding success, filled with vibrant floats, spirited performances, and a community coming together to ring in the festive season. The parade, a staple of island holiday celebrations, featured an array…

Community News

Play Your Part: Great Barrier’s Call for Creative Playground Ideas

Are your kids swing enthusiasts or slide aficionados? Or maybe you’re a fan of picnics under the pōhutukawa. The Great Barrier Local Board is calling on everyone, from energetic toddlers to seasoned grandparents, to have their say in shaping the…

Community News

Fire Danger Prompts Complete Ban Across Great Barrier Island and Gulf

As of 8:00 am Monday, 2 December 2024, a prohibited fire season is now in effect across all islands of the Hauraki Gulf, including Great Barrier Island and Kawau Island. The ban, which will remain until further notice, prohibits all…

Community News

December Delights: Santa Parade, True Tales, and Community Updates

Santa Parade and Market Set to Bring Holiday CheerMark your calendars for Saturday, December 7th, as the Claris Sports Club hosts its festive Market and Santa Parade! Starting at 10 AM, the market promises an array of stalls offering food,…

Nikki Kaye at The Currach Irish Pub, a beloved spot on Great Barrier Island where her friendly presence and warm smile made her a cherished part of the community.

Community News

Former MP Nikki Kaye Remembered for Her Contributions to Aotea

Nikki Kaye, the former National Party MP for Auckland Central and a familiar face across Great Barrier Island, has passed away at the age of 44 after a long battle with cancer. Known for her boundless energy and dedication to…

Aotea/Great Barrier Local Board members.

Community News

Local Board Distributes almost $200k in Ratepayer Grants at October Meeting

At the October business meeting, the Great Barrier Local Board allocated $198,419.89 in ratepayer-funded grants to several projects and initiatives. Applications for funding totalled more than $300,000. Here’s how the grants were distributed: Capital grants included: Glenfern Sanctuary Trust: Granted…

Community News

Barrier Named Top 25 Off-Grid Destination for 2025

Great Barrier Island has earned a spot among the world’s top 25 off-the-beaten-track destinations for 2025, according to US-based travel media brand Afar. Highlighted in Afar’s annual ‘Where to Go’ list, Aotea/Great Barrier Island was described as “a nature lover’s…

A breathtaking moment captured on YouTube Video: Orcas corner a shark at Tryphena Wharf. Video / Out of Line via YouTube

Orca Attack Caught on Camera at Great Barrier Island Wharf

A thrilling encounter between orcas and a shark has been captured on video at Tryphena Wharf. A group of three orca whales delivered the unforgettable show as they seemingly cornered a shark right up against the island’s main wharf—only metres…

New speed limit signs on Great Barrier Island spark debate—are they safety measures or just another sign of the city's trappings creeping in?

Community News

Speed Limits Spark Debate After New Signs Appear

A peculiar sight on Great Barrier Island has gone viral on social media, sparking a lively debate about the island’s recently reduced speed limits. The image, posted anonymously, shows not one, but two 40 km/h speed limit signs flanking either…

Experimental UV light unit deployed on the seafloor at Rakino Island, designed to target invasive Caulerpa species with intense ultraviolet light. Photo / University of Auckland

Environment & Ecology

UV Light Offers Promise for Some Caulerpa, Uncertain Impact for Aotea

Ultraviolet light is used to make drinking water safe, zap bugs, and reveal blood spatter at crime scenes. Now, a team from the University of Auckland is exploring whether it could also help preserve New Zealand’s kaimoana and boatie way…