The Story of the Hauraki Gulf
Discovery, Transformation, Restoration
Raewyn Peart
This very special publication is an environmental, social and cultural history of our association with this remarkable
place.
The Story of the Hauraki Gulf encompasses the 1.4 million hectares of marine space that comprises the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. This includes over
fifty islands, including Great Barrier and Great Mercury Islands, the entire east coast of Auckland, both coasts of the
Coromandel Peninsula and the Firth of Thames.
The author visited numerous places within this vast and incredibly diverse area and interviewed over sixty people whose
lives have intersected with the Hauraki Gulf in various ways — from local iwi leaders; to men and women making a living
from the gulf; to those enjoying sailing, fishing and diving; and to environmentalists who work tirelessly to preserve
and restore our precious natural heritage. These stories are woven into a narrative of discovery and settlement,
transformation — both of land and sea — and scientific research and restoration. They are accompanied by over 300 images, historic and contemporary, and specially commissioned maps.
“I hope that the stories in this book will prompt readers to recall their own special stories of the Hauraki Gulf and of
other treasured locations. Because it is only if we remember our stories, if we tell our stories and if we act on them
that we can ensure that our special places will endure.”
POLICY DIRECTOR, EDS (Environmental Defence Society www.eds.org.nz) BSocSc, BCo, LLB, MCom
Raewyn currently heads EDS’s environmental think-tank. For the past decade her work has focused on landscape protection,
coastal development and marine management in New Zealand. She has written numerous papers, research reports and guides
on these issues. Raewyn has published a major book on coastal development titled Castles in the Sand: What’s happening to the New Zealand coast? and on marine mammal protection titled Dolphins of Aotearoa: Living with dolphins in New Zealand. Raewyn is currently a member of the Stakeholder Working Group preparing the first marine spatial plan in New Zealand
for the Hauraki Gulf.
The Hauraki Gulf by Raewyn Peart is published by Bateman on 16 September 2016, RRP $89.99.