MAYOR'S OFFICE

MEDIA RELEASE

24 April 2006

Mayor welcomes Motutapu Island makeover

In honour of Anzac Day, the Mayor of Auckland City Dick Hubbard and former Mayor Christine Fletcher will announce tonight a new project which will restore public access to Auckland’s most significant World War II facility and one of Auckland’s most loved islands.

“Most people have no idea that Motutapu Island in the Hauraki Gulf housed long range guns and was the only strategic counter bombardment unit in the country during World War II to protect the region from invasion,” said Mrs Fletcher.

“Tonight, thanks to funding from the ASB Trust, we’re launching a major new project which will educate young and old about the history of Motutapu Island, restore the wharf and create a new visitor centre.”

The announcement follows last year’s news of Auckland’s first ever two-day walk, a new route called Walk Motutapu across Rangitoto and Motutapu islands, launched by The Motutapu Restoration Trust and Rotary as part of their centennial celebrations.

A DVD entitled ‘The Guns of Motutapu’ will be launched tonight at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. It has been designed to be an educational tool for both schoolchildren and adults throughout the region. It captures the lives of men and women from early Maori occupation, through to a World War II fortress and now a major conservation project.

Mayor of Auckland City Dick Hubbard says he is delighted to host the launch on the eve of one of our most important national days.

“Motutapu holds a very special place in the hearts of Aucklanders. The Motutapu Restoration Trust has worked tirelessly on this project for 10 years and it’s wonderful to see the results. I’m intending to add my name to the tree planting programme and become a member of the Friends of Motutapu Restoration Trust this winter and look forward to enjoying the new facilities at Motutapu this summer. “

ENDS

© Scoop Media