Special Projects
Tiritiri supporters have worked hard to create a world-class wildlife sanctuary though our work is far from over. Currently a handful of capital projects are in the pipeline including a field centre, a signal mast and a lighthouse museum.
Field Centre
For a long time, it has been recognised that the current bunkhouse does not adequately meet the needs of the Department of Conservation (DOC) and the Supporters of Tiritiri (SoTM). The hut is designed primarily for short term stays and during peak periods, there is not enough space for SoTM’s researchers and workers.
So as early as 2000 the idea of a new field centre was mooted. This would be designed to fulfil the needs of visitors overnighting, on-island employees and field researchers undertaking longer-term stays.
A suitable site close to the visitor centre and workshops was set aside many years ago and has remained untouched. The environmental impact of the field centre was a key consideration for the steering group. The final design was one that was low-impact, self-sufficient and capable of supplying additional energy for the island’s grid.
The final plans include a stand-alone water catchment and storage unit, storm and wastewater reticulation treatment unit and a generous supply of solar panels to not only supply the field centre but also to help make up for the island’s current solar power deficit.
Not all visitors are alike, so it was important the design met the needs of the various visitors and workers who stay on the island. Bearing this in mind, a multi-functional design consisting of communal kitchen, dining and lounge areas, 11 two bed cabins two large bunkrooms sleeping eleven people and two four bed family-style cabins was selected. It was also decided to provide 3 units for employees who need to stay on the island for extended periods.
The XX square metre field centre will contain –
- Accomodation for 30 overnight visitors
- Self contained accommodation for 3 permanent staff.
- Family friendly cabins
- A break-out space for researchers
- Showers, toilets and a communal kitchen
- Separate dining and lounge areas
As a key stage in developing a business plan to operate and maintain the centre, it was agreed with DOC that once the centre becomes operational, the existing bunk house will not be used for bookable accommodation and that SoTM would take over all booking functions.
Signal Mast
Signal flags were used internationally by ships at sea to relay short messages to those onshore.
Typically the ships would indicate key information such as the vessels name, any assistance needed, illness on board, etc. This was then relayed to Devonport via a system of baskets displayed on the mast.via a series of flags whether a pilot ship was required, though sometimes they would contain a plea for help or assistance entering the harbour if the boat had been in a collision.
<Do we have any good log book photos of examples of these messages, e.g captain sick, doctor needed etc?>
At night, ships would send up flares and rockets to attract the signalman’s attention. By using a series of flags they would relay their message which would then be passed on to Devonport by the signalman.
Currently a renovated signal tower or ‘morse house’ sits alongside the lighthouse. By erecting a replica signal mast, visitors will get a fuller understanding of the island’s important role in communicating with ships.
The mast will be considerably higher than the lighthouse and has the capability to be lowered, so that it does not disrupt the operation of the lighthouse.
Its presence will be used to demonstrate the full suite of marine technology that was employed throughout the 1800s and early 1900s. On occasion, it is anticipated that school groups will be treated to a display of the original system of flags and baskets to communicate with the mainland.
Light House Museum
As the oldest operating lighthouse in New Zealand, Tiritiri Matangi holds a special place in maritime history. Constructed six years after New Zealand’s first lighthouse in Pencarrow, the lighthouse was built in 1864 in an age of shifting technologies. In the 1860s, ship traffic increased significantly with the arrival of steam-boats, so the Government set about constructing a number of new lighthouses at key locations. Seventeen lighthouses were built during the period 1860 – 1900.
One of the lighthouses built during this time was one that was erected on Cuvier island which provided light for ships entering the Hauraki gulf from the East. When this ‘first order’ light was automated, it was dismantled, placed into boxes and given to DOC for safekeeping and after around 25 years was The Supporters’ were gifted this exquisite ‘first order’ light from DOC after it was rediscovered in a shed in the Pureora forest!. Doc offered the light, which by this time has deteriorated considerably, to SoTM if they would restore and display it. We quickly said “YES” and then set about working on a plan of how we could achieve this.
Weighing 8 tonnes and standing at 6.5 metres in height when assembled, the light would require a new building to house it and this was duly designed with the help of Auckland Council Heritage dept.
To minimise the visual impact of the building is was to be combined with an existing, more recent , generator shed and a 2 metre deep basement was incorporated to lower the roofline. Due to the ongoing amount of lighthouse equipment SoTM have been accumulating the floor area of the building has been doubled from the original plan. As well as displaying this elaborate light and other lighthouse related artifacts, the mMuseum will tell the story of gulf’s lighthouse keepers and its pre-European maritime history through artefacts and panel displays.
In the meantime the supporters have totally restored the glass, brass and ironworks, repacked it in new cases and shipped it to the island. The turning mechanism is on display in generator shed which is acting as the temporary museum and the glass lenses were assembledis now housed in a newly built shed behind the lighthouse. and filled the visitor centre for a couple of months to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Tiri light. Unfortunately, the visitor centre was needed for other things and it had to be dissembled and repacked.
Road Map
After significant public and iwi consultation, all three projects have been granted leases by DOC and resource consent from Auckland Council. Further approvals are required from Heritage New Zealand for the Lighthouse Museum, so that project is still awaiting sign-off.
In order to advance the two approved projects, the Supporters’ removed the Lighthouse Museum from the application and have subsequently been granted resource consent for the Signal Mast and Field Centre. Currently the Supporters are actively fundraising to make up the shortfall of XX to execute these projects.