Great Barrier Island#Government

The Māori name of the island is Aotea.One of several possible translations of Aotea is "white cloud". However some traditions give Aotea as the name of Kupe's canoe: see Aotearoa. It received its English name from Captain Cook because it acts as a barrier between the Pacific Ocean and the Hauraki Gulf. Entrance to the Hauraki Gulf is via two channels, one on each side of the island. Colville Channel separates the southernmost point, Cape Barrier, from Cape Colville at the northern tip of the Coromandel Peninsula to the south, Cradock Channel from the smaller Little Barrier Island to the west. The island protects the Hauraki Gulf from the ocean surface waves and the currents of the South Pacific Gyre. It is not a sandbar barrier, often defined as the correct use of the term.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}} The island's English name stems from its location on the outskirts of the Hauraki Gulf.

{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2021}}

With an area of {{convert|285|km2}}, Great Barrier Island is the sixth-largest island in New Zealand after the South Island, the North Island, Stewart Island / Rakiura, Chatham Island, and Auckland Island. The highest point, Mount Hobson or Hirakimatā, is {{convert|627|m|ft|0}} above sea level.

Great Barrier is surrounded by several smaller islands, including Kaikoura Island, Rakitu Island, Aiguilles Island and Dragon Island. A number of islands are located in Great Barrier bays, including Motukahu Island, Nelson Island, Kaikoura Island, Broken Islands, Motutaiko Island, Rangiahua Island, Little Mahuki Island, Mahuki Island and Junction Islands.

With a maximum length (north-south) of some {{convert|43|km}}, it and the Coromandel Peninsula (directly to its south) protect the Gulf from the storms of the Pacific Ocean to the east. Consequently, the island boasts highly contrasting coastal environments. The eastern coast comprises long, sandy beaches, windswept sand-dunes, and at times heavy surf. The western coast, sheltered and calm, is home to hundreds of tiny, secluded bays which offer some of the best diving and boating in the country. The inland holds several large and biologically diverse wetlands, along with rugged hill country (bush or heath in the more exposed heights), as well as old-growth and regenerating kauri forests.

Surrounding islands and islets:{{LINZ|id=21784|name=21784 |access-date=2023-09-06}}

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed = Y

|location = Port Fitzroy, Great Barrier Island (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1961–2003)

| Jan record high C = 28.7

| Feb record high C = 29.9

| Mar record high C = 27.5

| Apr record high C = 25.9

| May record high C = 22.8

| Jun record high C = 22.5

| Jul record high C = 19.5

| Aug record high C = 20.2

| Sep record high C = 21.5

| Oct record high C = 23.4

| Nov record high C = 24.3

| Dec record high C = 27.1

| year record high C =

|Jan record low C = 7.0

|Feb record low C = 6.2

|Mar record low C = 5.6

|Apr record low C = 4.5

|May record low C = 1.7

|Jun record low C = 0.2

|Jul record low C = 0.4

|Aug record low C = 1.3

|Sep record low C = 2.3

|Oct record low C = 1.9

|Nov record low C = 3.3

|Dec record low C = 7.3

|year record low C =

|Jan high C = 23.9

|Feb high C = 24.0

|Mar high C = 22.8

|Apr high C = 20.9

|May high C = 18.5

|Jun high C = 16.5

|Jul high C = 15.7

|Aug high C = 15.9

|Sep high C = 17.2

|Oct high C = 18.5

|Nov high C = 20.3

|Dec high C = 22.4

| year high C =

|Jan mean C = 19.7

|Feb mean C = 20.1

|Mar mean C = 18.9

|Apr mean C = 16.9

|May mean C = 15.0

|Jun mean C = 13.1

|Jul mean C = 12.2

|Aug mean C = 12.4

|Sep mean C = 13.4

|Oct mean C = 14.8

|Nov mean C = 16.4

|Dec mean C = 18.5

| year mean C =

|Jan low C = 15.4

|Feb low C = 16.2

|Mar low C = 15.0

|Apr low C = 13.0

|May low C = 11.4

|Jun low C = 9.7

|Jul low C = 8.8

|Aug low C = 8.9

|Sep low C = 9.7

|Oct low C = 11.1

|Nov low C = 12.5

|Dec low C = 14.6

| year low C =

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 92.3

|Feb rain mm = 120.0

|Mar rain mm = 134.1

|Apr rain mm = 115.1

|May rain mm = 159.0

|Jun rain mm = 165.8

|Jul rain mm = 245.6

|Aug rain mm = 178.2

|Sep rain mm = 132.0

|Oct rain mm = 99.8

|Nov rain mm = 102.7

|Dec rain mm = 127.6

|year rain mm =

|source 1 = NIWA{{cite web

|url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/

|title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent number: 1485)

|publisher = NIWA

|access-date = 13 Sep 2024}}

}}

{{#tag:mapframe|{{Wikipedia:Map data/Northern North Island Volcanics}}

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|text=Great Barrier Island volcanics map with andesite in red shading and rhyolite in violet shading. Clicking on the map enlarges it, and enables panning and mouseover of volcanic feature name/wikilink and ages before present. The key to the other volcanics that are shown with panning is basalt - brown, monogenetic basalts - dark brown, undifferentiated basalts of the Tangihua Complex in Northland Allochthon - light brown, arc basalts - deep orange brown, arc ring basalts -orange brown, dacite - purple, basaltic andesite`- light red, ignimbrite (lighter shades of violet), and plutonic - gray.

|width=250

|height=250

|latitude=-36.16

|longitude=175.46

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|zoom=9

}}

Much of Great Barrier Island is formed from remnants of volcanoes associated with the Coromandel Volcanic Zone. The North Great Barrier Volcano, which was centred to the north of the modern island from Whangapoua Bay northwards, formed through events between 18 and 17 million years ago; some of the earliest vulcanism which occurred in the zone. The Great Barrier Volcano formed to the west of the modern island between 15 and 12 million years ago. Much of the modern island is this volcano's eroded eastern flanks. The third volcano, Mount Hobson, is the caldera of a complex rhyolite dome volcano, which was active between 12 and 8 million years ago.{{cite book|title=Out of the Ocean, Into the Fire |last1=Hayward |first1=Bruce W. |author-link1=Bruce Hayward |year=2017 |isbn=978-0-473-39596-4 |publisher=Geoscience Society of New Zealand |pages=134–147}}

Great Barrier Island has been linked to the North Island for most of the last 18 million years, by a land bridge to the south along the Colville Channel.{{cite book |last1=Cameron |first1=Ewen |last2=Hayward |first2= Bruce |author-link2=Bruce Hayward |last3=Murdoch |first3= Graeme |title=A Field Guide to Auckland: Exploring the Region's Natural and Historical Heritage |isbn=978-1-86962-1513 |publisher=Random House New Zealand |year=2008 |pages=298–299 |edition=Revised}} Approximately 17,000 years ago during the Last Glacial Maximum, the Hauraki Gulf was a low-lying coastal plain as sea levels were over 100 metres lower than present day levels.{{Cite web| title = Estuary origins| url = https://niwa.co.nz/te-kuwaha/tools-and-resources/ng%C4%81-waihotanga-iho-the-estuary-monitoring-toolkit-for-iwi/estuary-origins| publisher = National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research| access-date = 3 November 2021| archive-date = 2 November 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211102223327/https://niwa.co.nz/te-kuwaha/tools-and-resources/ng%C4%81-waihotanga-iho-the-estuary-monitoring-toolkit-for-iwi/estuary-origins| url-status = live}} During this period, Great Barrier Island was bordered by the two major river systems that flowed on the plain. Over the past two million years, Great Barrier has periodically been an island and a peninsula.

File:Kauri Dam on Great Barrier Island 1966.jpg on Great Barrier Island, 1967. Logging was one of the early industries on the island, and this dam provided enough water to drive kauri logs {{convert|16|km|0|abbr=on}} to the sea.]]

Great Barrier Island (Aotea) is the ancestral land of Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea who are the tangata whenua (people of the land) and mana whenua (territorial land rights holders) of Aotea. Ngāti Rehua have occupied Aotea since the 17th century after conquering Aotea from people of Ngāti Manaia and Kawerau descent.{{Cite web |title=Ko Wai : Who We Are |url=https://ngatirehua.com/who-we-are/ |access-date=2022-04-17 |website=Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea |language=en-US}} In the mid-19th century during the early Colonial era of New Zealand, extensive private and crown land purchases meant only two areas of the Hauraki Gulf remained in Māori ownership: Te Huruhi (Surfdale) on Waiheke Island (2100 acres) on Waiheke and a 3,510 acre parcel of land at Katherine Bay on Great Barrier Island.{{Cite web| date=2013 | title = Auckland Council District Plan - Hauraki Gulf Islands Section - Operative 2013: The history of human settlement of the islands |url=http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/documents/hgidecision/docs/hgiAnn01a.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130081424/http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/documents/hgidecision/docs/hgiAnn01a.pdf |archive-date=2018-01-30 |url-status=live | publisher = Auckland City Council| access-date = 15 April 2022}}

Early European interest followed discovery of copper in the remote north, where New Zealand's earliest mines were established at Miners Head in 1842. Traces of these mines remain, largely accessible only by boat. Later, gold and silver were found in the Okupu / Whangaparapara area in the 1890s, and the remains of a stamping battery on the Whangaparapara Road are a remainder of this time. The sound of the battery working was reputedly audible from the Coromandel Peninsula, 20 km away.

In early 2010, a government proposal to remove 705 ha of land on the Te Ahumatā Plateau (called "White Cliffs" by the locals) from Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act, which gives protection from the mining of public land, was widely criticised. Concerns were that mining for the suspected $4.3 billion in mineral worth in the area would damage both the conservation land as well as the island's tourism economy. Locals were split on the project, some hoping for new jobs.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/auckland-region/news/article.cfm?l_id=117&objectid=10633842|title=Great Barrier locals at odds over mining plan|date=23 March 2010|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=24 March 2010|first=Michael|last=Dickison|archive-date=24 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024185634/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/auckland-region/news/article.cfm?l_id=117&objectid=10633842|url-status=live}} If restarted, mining at White Cliffs would occur in the same area it originally proliferated on Great Barrier. The area's regenerating bushland still holds numerous semi-collapsed or open mining shafts where silver and gold had been mined.

File:Whangaparapara Great Barrier.jpg

The kauri logging industry was profitable in early European days and up to the mid-20th century. Forests were well inland, with no easy way to get the logs to the sea or to sawmills. Kauri logs were dragged to a convenient stream bed with steep sides and a driving dam was constructed of wood, with a lifting gate near the bottom large enough for the logs to pass through. When the dam had filled, which might take up to a year, the gate was opened and the logs above the dam were pushed out through the hole and swept down to the sea.{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/bush-trams-and-other-log-transport/6|title=Bush trams and other log transport - Moving kauri: dams and rafting|last1=Mahoney|first1=Paul|date=1 March 2009|encyclopedia=Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=24 October 2010|archive-date=28 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628134605/http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/bush-trams-and-other-log-transport/6|url-status=live}} The logging industry cut down large amounts of old growth, and most of the current growth is younger native forest (around 150,000 kauri seedlings were planted by the New Zealand Forest Service in the 1970s and 1980s) as well as some remaining kauri in the far north of the island. Much of the island is covered with regenerating bush dominated by kanuka and kauri.

Great Barrier Island was the site of New Zealand's last whaling station, at Whangaparapara, which opened in 1956, over a century after the whaling industry peaked in New Zealand, and closed due to depletion of whaling stocks and increasing protection of whales by 1962.

Another small-scale industry was kauri gum digging, while dairy farming and sheep farming have tended to play a small role compared to the usual New Zealand practice. A fishing industry collapsed when international fish prices dropped. Islanders are generally occupied in tourism, farming or service-related industries when not working off-island.

File:Great Barrier Island Pigeon-Gram stamp 1899.jpg stamp]]

The remote north was the site of the sinking of the SS Wairarapa around midnight of 29 October 1894. This was one of New Zealand's worst shipwrecks, with about 140 lives lost, some of them buried in two beach grave sites in the far north. As a result, a Great Barrier Island pigeon post service was set up, the first message being flown on 14 May 1897. Special postage stamps were issued from October 1898 until 1908, when a new communications cable was laid to the mainland, which made the pigeon post redundant.[http://stamps.nzpost.co.nz/Cultures/en-NZ/Stamps/StampsHistoricalIssues/1997/Centenary+of+Pigeon+Post.htm Centenary of Pigeon Post] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927043400/http://stamps.nzpost.co.nz/Cultures/en-NZ/Stamps/StampsHistoricalIssues/1997/Centenary+of+Pigeon+Post.htm |date=27 September 2007 }} (from the New Zealand Post website. Accessed 2008-06-04.) Another major wreck lies in the far southeast, the SS Wiltshire.

Over time, more and more of the island came under the stewardship of the Department of Conservation (DOC) or its predecessors. Partly this was land that had belonged to the Crown since the 1800s, while other parts were sold or donated like the more than 10% of the island (located in the northern bush area, with some of the largest remaining kauri forests) that was gifted to the Crown by farmer Max Burrill in 1984. DOC has created a large number of walking tracks through the island, some of which are also open for mountain biking. The Aotea Conservation Park has the only multi-day wilderness walk in the Auckland region, boasting two DOC huts and numerous campsites. The Park spreads over more than 12,000 hectares and offers multiple walking tracks for novice and experienced walkers.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

The island is free of some of the more troublesome introduced pests that plague the native ecosystems of other parts of New Zealand. While it does have wild cats, feral pigs, black rats (R. rattus), Polynesian rats (R. exulans), mice and rabbits, there are no possums, mustelids (weasels, stoats or ferrets), hedgehogs, brown rats (R. norvegicus), deer or (since 2006){{cite web |url=http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/newseventsculture/OurAuckland/mediareleases/Pages/FeralgoatstobeeradicatedonWaiheke.aspx |title=Feral goats to be eradicated on Waiheke |date=26 November 2010 |publisher=Auckland Council |access-date=7 March 2013 |archive-date=16 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116101619/http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/newseventsculture/OurAuckland/mediareleases/Pages/FeralgoatstobeeradicatedonWaiheke.aspx |url-status=live }} feral goats,{{cite book |title=Pests of Aotea Great Barrier Island – a local guide |url= https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/about-auckland-council/how-auckland-council-works/local-boards/all-local-boards/great-barrier-local-board/Documents/pests-aotea-great-barrier-island-local-guide.pdf |date=2017 |publisher=Great Barrier Island Local Board, Auckland Council |access-date=2 March 2024}} thus being a relative haven for native bird and plant populations. Rare animals found on the island include brown teal ducks, black petrel seabirds and kākā parrots.[http://www.doc.govt.nz/documents/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/auckland/great-barrier-brochure.pdf Great Barrier Island Aotea brochure, Front] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208201117/http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/auckland/great-barrier-brochure.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/auckland/great-barrier-brochure.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |date=8 February 2013 }} (from the DOC. Accessed 2008-06-04.)

Great Barrier Island has two marae affiliated with the local iwi of Ngāti Rehua and Ngātiwai: the Kawa Marae and its Rehua meeting house, and Motairehe Marae and its Whakaruruhau meeting house.{{cite web|title=Te Kāhui Māngai directory|url=http://www.tkm.govt.nz/|website=tkm.govt.nz|publisher=Te Puni Kōkiri|access-date=19 February 2019|archive-date=18 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118064630/http://www.tkm.govt.nz/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Māori Maps |url=https://maorimaps.com/map |website=maorimaps.com |publisher=Te Potiki National Trust |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-date=22 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122131749/https://maorimaps.com/map |url-status=live }}

In October 2020, the Government committed $313,007 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Kawa Marae, creating 6 jobs.{{cite web |title=Marae Announcements |url=https://www.growregions.govt.nz/assets/funding-announcements/marae-announcements.xlsx |website=growregions.govt.nz |publisher=Provincial Growth Fund |format=Excel |date=9 October 2020 |access-date=14 October 2020 |archive-date=15 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015005718/https://www.growregions.govt.nz/assets/funding-announcements/marae-announcements.xlsx |url-status=live }}

In 2017, Aotea / Great Barrier Island was accredited as a Dark Sky Sanctuary by the International Dark-Sky Association. This designation is given for sites in very remote locations to increase awareness of their dark sky characteristics and promote long term conservation. At the time, it was the third International Dark Sky Sanctuary to be designated, and the first island sanctuary.{{cite news| url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/116554864/nzs-dark-sky-sanctuaries-sights-worth-travelling-for| title=NZ's dark sky sanctuaries sights worth travelling for| work=Stuff | date=19 October 2019| first=Naomi| last=Arnold| access-date=28 April 2021| archive-date=28 April 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428075328/https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/116554864/nzs-dark-sky-sanctuaries-sights-worth-travelling-for| url-status=live}}{{cite web| url=https://www.darksky.org/our-work/conservation/idsp/sanctuaries/aotea-great-barrier-island/| title=Aotea / Great Barrier Island (New Zealand)| publisher=International Dark-Sky Association| access-date=2 May 2021| archive-date=2 May 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502134529/https://www.darksky.org/our-work/conservation/idsp/sanctuaries/aotea-great-barrier-island/| url-status=live}}

File:Great Barrier - Port Fitzroy from top of Selwyn Island 1967.jpg from the top of Kaikoura Island (previously Selwyn Island), 1967]]

Barrier Islands statistical area, which includes Little Barrier Island and Mokohinau Islands although they have no permanent inhabitants, covers {{Convert|320.28|km2||abbr=on}}{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised)|access-date=12 December 2024}} and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Barrier Islands|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Barrier Islands|y}}|R}}/320.28|1}} people per km².

{{Historical populations|2006|867|2013|933|2018|936|2023|1,239|percentages=pagr|align=left|source={{NZ census 2018|Barrier Islands (111800)|barrier-islands|Barrier Islands}}}}

Barrier Islands had a population of 1,239 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 303 people (32.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 306 people (32.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 660 males, 573 females and 6 people of other genders in 681 dwellings.{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.111801.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}} 3.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 51.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 162 people (13.1%) aged under 15 years, 153 (12.3%) aged 15 to 29, 603 (48.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 324 (26.2%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 89.8% European (Pākehā); 23.0% Māori; 2.2% Pasifika; 1.7% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.8%, Māori language by 3.6%, and other languages by 8.0%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 18.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 18.9% Christian, 0.2% Hindu, 1.5% Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% Buddhist, 1.2% New Age, 0.2% Jewish, and 1.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 67.6%, and 9.0% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 162 (15.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 579 (53.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 267 (24.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $28,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. 57 people (5.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 402 (37.3%) people were employed full-time, 222 (20.6%) were part-time, and 33 (3.1%) were unemployed.{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.111801.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Barrier Islands (111801)}}

The population lives mostly in coastal settlements. Tryphena, in Tryphena Harbour at the southern end, is the largest settlement. Other communities are Okupu and Whangaparapara in the south-west, Port Fitzroy and Ōkiwi in the north, and Claris and Medlands in the south-east. The population swells substantially from October to May. The island has become a favourite holiday destination in the darker months, due its superbly dark sky and the astrophotography and stargazing opportunities this offers. In 2017 the island was given [https://www.darksky.org/our-work/conservation/idsp/sanctuaries/aotea-great-barrier-island/ Dark Sky Sanctuary status] by the IDA. Its relative remoteness offers solitude, and the sustainable off-grid lifestyle of its inhabitants is something many visitors like to experience.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Without reticulated electricity, most houses use solar panels and a battery bank to generate and store power. Wind and water turbines and solar water heaters are also used. Diesel generators, which used to be the main power source, are now mostly used as back-up.{{cite journal |url=https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/reaping-the-wind/ |title=Reaping the wind |first=Veronika |last=Meduna |date=May–June 2002 |journal=New Zealand Geographic |issue=57 |access-date=30 January 2021 |archive-date=28 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128150140/https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/reaping-the-wind/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.greatbarrier.co.nz/travel-essentials/getting-offgrid/power/ |title=Power |work=Aotea Great Barrier Island – A World of its Own |publisher=Destination Great Barrier Island Trust |access-date=30 January 2021 |archive-date=27 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127215701/https://www.greatbarrier.co.nz/travel-essentials/getting-offgrid/power/ |url-status=live }}

From the end of February 2007, the island was seen around the world as the setting for the BBC One reality show Castaway, which was filmed there for three months.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/castaway/about_us/the_location.shtml Castaway, About the location] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816064603/http://www.bbc.co.uk/castaway/about_us/the_location.shtml |date=16 August 2007 }}, BBC

File:Port Fitzroy Ferry At The Wharf.jpg

File:Great Barrier Ferry Auckland.jpg, Auckland. It takes about 4.5 hours, and transports tourists and locals working off-island.]]

There are two airfields on the island, Great Barrier Aerodrome at Claris and Okiwi Airfield. Barrier Air operates services from Auckland Airport, North Shore Aerodrome, and Tauranga to Claris.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-09 |title=Barrier Air. Routes |url=https://www.barrierair.kiwi/routes/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509053455/https://www.barrierair.kiwi/routes/ |archive-date=2024-05-09 |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Barrier Air |language=en}} Flight time is approximately 30 minutes from Auckland Airport.{{Cite web |last=Sanderson |first=Lauren |date=2022-02-22 |title=The Ultimate First Timer’s Guide To Great Barrier Island |url=https://www.theurbanlist.com/nz/a-list/great-barrier-island |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607133059/https://www.theurbanlist.com/nz/a-list/great-barrier-island |archive-date=2023-06-07 |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=www.theurbanlist.com |language=en}} Sunair operates between Claris and Hamilton, Tauranga, Whangārei and Whitianga.

SeaLink operates a passenger, car and freight ferry. This ferry operates from Wynyard Wharf in Auckland City to Tryphena (several times weekly). Sailing time is approximately four and a half hours.{{Cite web |title=Great Barrier Island Timetable {{!}} Passenger & Car Ferry - SeaLink |url=https://www.sealink.co.nz/timetables-fares/great-barrier-island-timetables-fares/auckland-great-barrier-island |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518045803/https://www.sealink.co.nz/timetables-fares/great-barrier-island-timetables-fares/auckland-great-barrier-island |archive-date=2024-05-18 |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=www.sealink.co.nz}}

Other ways to access the island include by seaplane or water taxi.{{Cite web |title=Guide to getting to Aotea Great Barrier Island |url=https://www.greatbarrier.co.nz/transport/guide-to-getting-here/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520063052/https://www.greatbarrier.co.nz/transport/guide-to-getting-here/ |archive-date=2024-05-20 |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Aotea Great Barrier Island |language=en-NZ}}

Institutions and services are primarily provided by the Auckland Council, the local authority. Services and infrastructure like roads and the wharves at Tryphena and Whangaparapara are subsidised, with the island receiving about $4 in services for every $1 in rates. The Port FitzRoy wharf is owned by the North Barrier Residents and Ratepayers Association.{{Cite web |last=Biederman |first=Bree |date=2024-06-19 |title=Port Fitzroy Wharf Gets an Upgrade |url=https://www.greatbarrier.co.nz/port-fitzroy-wharf-gets-an-upgrade/ |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=Aotea Great Barrier Island |language=en-NZ}}

There are three primary schools: Mulberry Grove School at Tryphena, Kaitoke School at Claris, and Okiwi School. There is no secondary school, but there is a learning hub to assist students who learn through the New Zealand Correspondence School. Many children leave the island when they reach secondary school age to attend boarding school on the mainland. Previously, the lack of secondary schooling was cited as one of the reasons for a slow exodus of long-term resident families.{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/auckland-region/news/article.cfm?l_id=117&objectid=10618484 |title=Great Barrier: Barrier break away |author=Rush, Paul |date=6 January 2010 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=2 October 2011 |archive-date=25 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025034136/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/auckland-region/news/article.cfm?l_id=117&objectid=10618484 |url-status=live }}

As part of Auckland the rules governing daily activities and applicable standards for civic works and services exists, shared with some of the other inhabited islands of the Hauraki Gulf. Driving rules are the same as for the rest of NZ and registration and a Warrant of Fitness are required for all vehicles. For example, every transport service operated solely on the island, the Chatham Islands, or Stewart Island/Rakiura is exempt from section 70C of the Transport Act 1962, the requirements for drivers to maintain driving-hours logbooks. Drivers subject to section 70B must nevertheless keep records of their driving hours in some form.Unknown article name - New Zealand Gazette, Thursday 14 August 2003

Rules governing dog control are the same as for Auckland. Dogs must be kept on a lead in all public places.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

• Fanny Osborne (1852–1934), artist{{DNZB|last=Mackle|first=Tony|id=2o10|title=Fanny Osborne|access-date=23 April 2017}}
• Jamison Gibson-Park, rugby union player
• {{Annotated link|Jenni Ogden}}
• Paul Silva (1897–1974), soldier, timber worker, axeman and bridge builder

{{Portal|Islands|New Zealand}}

• Harataonga, a beach
• List of islands of New Zealand

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikivoyage|Great Barrier Island}}

• [http://www.thebarrier.co.nz/articles.htm] Articles/Stories of Great Barrier Island history, locals, issues, lifestyle
• [http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?AC=SEE_ALSO&QF0=Subjects&QI0==%22Great+Barrier+Island%22&XC=/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aucklandcity.govt.nz%2Fdbtw-wpd%2Fheritageimages%2Findex.htm&TN=heritageimages&SN=AUTO2939&SE=431&RN=0&MR=20&TR=0&TX=1000&ES=0&CS=1&XP=&RF=HIOReport&EF=&DF=HIORecord&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=2&ID=&MF=WPEngMsg.ini&MQ=&TI=0&DT=&ST=0&IR=13684&NR=1&NB=0&SV=0&SS=1&BG=&FG=&QS=index&OEX=ISO-8859-1&OEH=ISO-8859-1 Photographs of Great Barrier Island] held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections
• The official visitors [https://www.greatbarrier.co.nz/ website] for the island

{{Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Area}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Islands of the Auckland Region

Category:Dark-sky preserves in New Zealand