AoteaGBI.news – Page 5 – Great Barrier Island News

The beach at Medlands, Oruawharo Bay, Great Barrier Island, New Zealand (1990/184) Photo / GothPhil / CC

Barrier Flashbacks

When Land Was Cheap and Ferries Fast

In 1991, New Zealand Geographic's "An Island Apart" reminisced about a time when Great Barrier Island land sold for just $100 an acre, setting the stage for early farms and the vast communes that still exist today. It details the…

Andi Ross, Orla Cumisky, and Felicitas Weisbach: Aotea's Entrepreneurs. Photo / NZOA / Shepherdess

Barrier Flashbacks

Aotea’s Commerce Queens: Thriving Off the Grid

Originally published on 22 January 2023, "Ngā Hononga - Common Threads" explores the lives of Orla Cumisky, Felicitas Weisbach, and Andi Ross, who have turned Aotea Great Barrier Island into the base for their thriving businesses. These women navigate the…

Surf's Up Again? Famous Whangapoua Surf Bar Could Make a Comeback. Photo / Auckland Council

Environment & Ecology

Local Surfer Spearheads Effort to Restore Iconic Whangapoua Surf Bar

The once-thriving surf bar at Whangapoua, famous for its powerful waves and uncrowded breaks, has vanished, leaving local surfers longing for the good old days. But David Speir, a local veteran surfer, believes there’s hope to bring back the iconic…

Great Barrier Islander Ross McLachlan lost two teeth after being punched by an Auckland City official. Photo / Metro

Barrier Flashbacks

From Punches to Power Plays: Great Barrier Island’s Rocky Relations with Auckland Council

Before the influx of activists from distant shores, Barrier stood as a bastion of rugged independence. In those days, local farmers scraped by with perhaps the most grueling livelihoods in the nation, heavily burdened by exorbitant freight costs. On the…

Serene sanctuary: A tranquil garden on Great Barrier Island, showcasing lush greenery and vibrant blooms. Photo / Great Barrier Island Garden Tours

Bloom with a View: Garden Tours Return for 2024

Aotea Great Barrier Island is set to flourish once again with the return of our much-loved Garden Tours. Scheduled for Saturday, November 30, 2024, this year’s event promises to be an unforgettable adventure, showcasing unique residential gardens across the motu.…

Learn the secrets to a bountiful harvest on Sunday, July 28th. Photo / RawPixel.com

Environment & Ecology

Back to Roots with Fruit Tree Workshop

Green thumbs and gardening novices alike will have the opportunity to deepen their gardening know-how at the fruit tree planting and pruning workshop organized by Grow Food Aotea, taking place on Sunday, July 28th, from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM…

Vines climbing in a Vineyard in South Australia. CC / No Attribution

Barrier Flashbacks

Vintage Tale: The Story of Great Barrier Island’s Winemaking

Each week, we feature a blast from the past, giving you a glimpse into the history and charm of Great Barrier Island. Thanks to our partnership with Kay Stowell, we are able to bring you articles from her archives, some…

Health Trustees on a recent site inspection of the new Community Health Centre wing. Photo / GBICHT

Community News

New Health Centre Wing Nears Completion

Construction is nearing the finish line for the much-needed expansion of Great Barrier Island’s Community Health Centre. The new wing, which began construction earlier this year, has now had its roof installed and is in the final stages of internal…

The magic of Aotea's night sky, a Travelers' Choice award-winning experience. Photo / Mark Russell

Environment & Ecology

Aotea Shines with Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award

Great Barrier can celebrate another win for local tourism with Good Heavens, the island’s renowned dark sky experience, receiving the prestigious 2024 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award. The award, based on a year’s worth of reviews and ratings from travelers worldwide,…

Economic Waves: The Triple Tax Surge Set to Hit Great Barrier Island's Shores. Photo / Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

Community News

Kaitoke School Launches 2025 Calendar Fundraiser

Kaitoke School is gearing up to showcase the breathtaking beauty of Aotea through the lens of local photographers with the release of its 2025 landscape calendar, just in time for the festive season. The school has announced the ambitious project…