Whanganui Island

Early history

The ancient pā of Horokino (Herekino) situated at Arapaoa Bay (Homestead Bay) was captured by the Tainui from the original inhabitants, the Ngāti Huarere, and was one of several dotted around the perimeter of the Coromandel Harbour, then known as the Waiau. [[File:Horokino ( Herekino) Pa situated at Arapaoa or Aropawa Bay ( Homestead Bay) Whanganui Island Aotearoa.jpg|thumb|Horokino (Herekino) Pā situated at Arapaoa or Aropawa Bay (Homestead Bay) Whanganui Island]]

Modern history

The geographic naming by both Māori and Pākehā has been subject to many changes over the history of the island and this makes the study of its history confusing.

The historian A. V. Piesse made a study of the names and seems to have arrived at a suitable summary. "The island is separated from the mainland by a narrow passage known as Whenuakura.The ancient name for the Island was Poroporo (according to Church Missionary Society catechist James Preece), later referred to by early settlers as Arapaoa, and then finally Whanganui Island (although originally as Wanganui Island). Also the Southernmost Point of the Island, now called Tawhiti Point was originally named Poroporo. Tawhiti Point was the name first used for the Northern end of Tawhiti (Woolshed) Bay, which is now called Rodney Point. The island was variously also named Beesons Island, Parker Island and Waiou.

American William Webster established a shipbuilding and trading enterprise on the island in 1836. He owned the island until the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, when he lost legal title to the island as all titles passed to the British crown.

During the period of William Webster John Logan Campbell spent a period of time on Whanganui Island. There is a certain amount of confusion about where he stayed. Some say he lived at Timber (Woolshed) Bay and some say he stayed at the home at Arapaoa Bay. There was a good deal of shipbuilding activity in Timber (Woolshed) Bay and this was of primary interest to Campbell so it was possible that he stayed there. However Piesse for one includes a sketch of Campbell's "base" in his book and Campbell writes about his "Stay at Herekino" in his book "Poenamo"

Town of Coromandel

Whanganui Island was the original site for the new Town of Coromandel. Plans were drawn up and sold in New Zealand and Britain.

Woolshed Bay on the protected southern shore is a popular overnight mooring spot for cruising from Auckland.

References

References

1. "Whanganui Island – A History. The town that never was." A V Piesse
2. "Whanganui Island – A History. The town that never was." A V Piesse Pages 4 & 5
3. The New-Zealander. Wednesday August 6, 1862 Vol XVIII Issue 1711 6 August 1862 "The Wynard Pier"
4. Parker Island Papers Past _ Newspapers _ New Zealand Times _ 18 July 1899 _ LOCAL AND GENERAL
5. "Romance of Coromandel {{!".
6. Paul Monin. "Coromandel and surrounds". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
7. In Timber (now Woolshed Bay) you can still see the dig out where the ships were built and Kim Ward – ex Manager of the Island told me that at low tide you could find remnants of posts sunk into the ground (about 2ft square) where they attached blocks to assist in the launching of the newly built boats – April 2020 Jim Sharp, Ruffins Bay.
8. "Arapaoa Bay, Websters Base "Whanganui Island – A History. The town that never was." A V Piesse Page 21
9. James Cowan. (November 1, 1933). "Famous New Zealanders — No. 8".
10. (1973). "Poenamo". Golden Press Pty Ltd.