Moving to Quarantine Island

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Kamautaurua/Quarantine Island is 34 acres or 14 hectares approximately.  It sits in the middle of Otago Harbour near Dunedin, New Zealand.  Along with it’s neighbour Goat Island it formed a ridge between the mainland and the Otago Peninsula.  As sea level rose it broke through and become islands and a peninsula.  Prior to that the islands were the center of the volcano that started the formation of Otago Harbour.

The highest point on the island.  Port Chalmers in the background

8pm on a balmy summers evening, Aquarium in the background

Maori know the island as Kamautaurua, ‘place to set nets.'  It was once covered in native bush and used as a temporary fishing camp by the local, Ngai Tahu iwi.  European settlers quickly cleared the island for farming.  This started the long and continuing struggle for anyone trying to make a living from the island.  With no rivers or natural springs residence are reliant on rain water.  Although Dunedin has a reputation for terrible weather, it’s rainfall is not high.

The St Martin Island Community for whom we work was formed in 1958 and still holds the lease with the Department of Conservation.  The community was formed as a Christian group whose philosophy was ‘work and worship’.  These days the community is interdominational.  Anyone with a passion for the island and the community’s philosophy of work, conservation, historic restoration, spirituality, sustainability, social justice and community is drawn to this place and becomes part of the passionate community of people who put so much time, love, energy and money into the island.

Wayne and I, having both been on the island on a number of occasions were drawn to the advertisement for new resident caretakers.  We were sick of the full time work, full time parent division.  Wayne wanted out of the office and back outside.  We both had careers in the outdoors.  Prior to children I was working for the local Polytechnic as an Outdoor Leadership tutor.  Wayne was a contract Outdoor Instructor, Sea Kayak guide and part time (became full time after children) Media producer.  We both worked for Outward Bound, NZ for a time.  After 6 years in our new parenting adventure we were ready to get back into the outdoors – the adventure playground we knew well.

An old family photo of us

Moving 2 chooks, 2 children, ourselves, personal belongings and a couple of bits of furniture to an island is a little more complicated than just shifting house!  The move was very smooth with lots of help from friends.

The Qi Gong silent retreat arrived just after we did.  Kuini and Jim, community members who had been the relief caretakers over Christmas welcomed them on and got them settled in while we unpacked.  Eli who is 5.5yrs old went from excitement to tears over the day.  These contrary feelings slowly dissipated over the first few weeks of being here.  Still when he’s tired or hurt he asked to go home.  Niwha who is 2.5yrs old was just a bit confused and very tired.  Later that day he came with me on the Te Whai our little Dory boat with the 5 horse power motor over to ‘Back Beach’ at Port Chalmers to pick up Jim who was coming back to collect the Magpies (another story).  On the way back from Back Beach, Niwha’s eyes started to droop and his head nod.  I asked Jim who was sitting behind him to hold onto him incase he did fall asleep.  Nice to know that he is comfortable enough in our small boat to fall asleep!  It took a few weeks for Niwha to stop giving me the ‘home’ sign when we were in town and then growl at me when I said we were going home to the island.  At low tide the ladder up onto the jetty is very high.  Niwha quickly learnt to climb it even when he had to lift each foot to hip height to get to the next rung.  He quickly moved onto ‘Me do it’ when someone tried to help him.  We’re trying hard to let the boys find their groove in their new home.  Skipping dinner, staying up late, not showering are no big deal in the first few weeks.

Eli and Niwha being 'tigers in the grass' in front of the Cottage (our house)

Our goal as a family is to mix work and play so that there is little distinction between them.  We aim to have pure family time, work together and just live on the island.  Eli won’t be told what to do so we’re attempting to limit what we ask of him. With homeschooling a strong potential we can chill out about bedtime – don’t have much choice when it’s impossible to get him to bed before 9pm – and he’s very good at sleeping in.

Life is already proving to be busy here, but my intention is to record our experiences as a family at least monthly.  Hope you enjoy the updates!