Puketutu Island Cleanfill

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One of New Zealand’s earliest Maori settling places, Puketutu Island is of great significance to Iwi. Its history dates back to 1150 AD when Toi-kai-rakau is known to have visited the island.

History

Around 1752 AD, Ngati-whatua of Kaipara began warfare with the people of the Manukau, overwhelming the Puketutu pa. Eventually, Puketutu’s chiefs decided to evacuate, seeking security within the defences of Mangere. The Puketutu pa was permanently abandoned around this time, as were many other neighbouring forts.

Puketutu Island was one of only a few sites in the Auckland area where Maori used stone extensively for their building foundations, gardens and other structures. Although most physical evidence has been removed by European activities an important remnant on the western side of the island has been protected by Winstone Aggregates and the Kelliher Trust.

Situated in the Manukau Harbour, Puketutu is a volcanic island separated from the mainland by a tidal estuary about a mile in width. It was formerly accessible, except at high water, by a hard shell-bank spit, but this old-time pathway has now been replaced by a two-lane causeway.

Quarrying began on the island in the 1950s and Puketutu’s scoria cones were heavily quarried for fill to extend nearby Auckland Airport and the sewage treatment ponds (also on the island).

Now at the end of its life, Puketutu Island operates as a distribution centre and clean fill.