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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…

The well-camouflaged eggs of the NZ dotterel, nestled safely in the sands of Oruawharo Medlands.

Community News

Barrier Buzz: News and Developments from across Aotea

Oruawharo Medlands Ecovision – Protecting NZ Dotterels During Nesting Season Oruawharo Medlands Ecovision remind us that it’s nesting time for the NZ dotterels, a bird rarer than some kiwi species. These birds lay their eggs in well-camouflaged nests on the…

More than 100 tonnes of caulerpa washed up in this Great Barrier Island Bay after Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo / Sid Ware / Ministry for Primary Industries

Controversial Caulerpa Controls Extended Another Year

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has officially extended the Exotic Caulerpa Controlled Area Notices (CANs) for Aotea / Great Barrier Island until 30 September 2025. The restrictions, initially implemented in 2021, aim to limit the spread of the invasive…