These Islands are a 4 million year old
rhyolite volcano, believed to be remains of large lava domes which rose on a deep fracture
running from the Coromandel Peninsula to the east coast of Northland. The
Mokohinau Islands and Hen and Chicken Islands were active rhyolite volcanoes at the same
time. The Poor Knights group which rises 240 metres from the sea comprises of two main
islands, the northern named Tawhiti Rahi having an area of 318 acres and the southern
island named Aorangi consisting of 163 acres and several small islets and isolated
rocks. A narrow passage divides the two principal islands, which lie in a
north south direction. Most of the islands are surrounded by sheer cliffs some
plunging to a depth of 90 metres. An unusual feature of the islands is the number of
caves and archways some which are navigable by boats and some which are
underwater. These formations are the result constant wearing away of the weaker
volcanic rock. The only beaches on the Poor Knights are found at about 30 metres
underwater, these being flooded when the sea rose during the melting of the last ice age.
Maori Habitation of the Poor
Knights Islands
According to reliable information
obtained from old Maori living on the adjacent coast, the Poor Knights Islands were
inhabited for many generations by a population of some three to four hundred
Maori. They were self sufficient, cultivating arable land and supplementing
their diet from abundant fish and shellfish life. The northern and larger of
the two, named 
Tawhiti Rahi, was
occupied by a sub tribe or Iwi called Ngatiwai, with Tuaho as their chief,
while the Ngati Toki (a hapu of Ngatiwai) their chief Tabu, lived on the southern island
which is called Aorangi. The chief Tatau was ruler over both
islands. In calm weather Aorangi offered fairly easy landings in two
places for canoes. Owing to the precipitous nature of the cliffs
surroundings Tawhiti Rahi, the canoes of these islands would on approaching of bad weather
be lifted by ropes from the sea. Pigs obtained from Captain Cook were
bred and kept on Aorangi only, and were used principally as barter when dealing with the
mainland tribes for totara timber. This was used largely by the islanders
in the building of canoes. dwellings and fortifications.
About the year 1808 a party of natives
belonging to the Hikutu tribe from Hokianga paid a visit to Aorangi and requested to be
supplied with pigs, but they were ordered off empty handed without being allowed to
land. Soon after this incident it happened that Tatau and his warriors
joined the notorious Hongi Hika on a fighting expedition to the Hauraki Gulf.
Immediately after their departure a
slave named Paha went in a small canoe to the mainland, losing no time in crossing over
land to the west coast to the Hikutu settlement. He informed the chief
of the Hikutu tribe Waikato of the absence of the fighting men and on his advice an
immediate raid for the purpose of securing pigs and slaves was
ordered. Acting without delay Waikato with three large canoes, set out
via the North Cape to the Poor Knights, a distance of two hundred miles.
Arriving at the islands at night, the raiders were piloted by the escaped slave Paha to
the best landing and the wholesale massacre of the defenceless inhabitants
commenced. It took the first night and all the next day to kill the
islanders, many who jumped from the high cliffs into the sea. Losing no time in collecting
their booty, the Hikutu people made off, carrying with them as captives Tatau's wife Oneho
and her daughter. At Whangaroa they rested for twenty four hours, being entertained by the
local people in the wharetapere. While this entertainment was in progress Tango, the local
rangatira, asked to be shown the slaves, Tango immediately recognised Oneho as a distant
relative. That night he effected the escape of the two women to
Kerikeki, whence they were conveyed by canoe to Rawhiti, in the Bay of Islands. In
due course Tatau returned from his Hauraki venture and was filled with horror on finding
what had taken place in his absence. He was met at the landing by nine to ten
people, these being the only survivors of the two island communities, including his five
year old son Wehiwehi and the old man Omanoa. Omanoa had saved the infant by
concealing him in a cave. Tatau with his men performed what last rights he
could over the slain that could be found, declared the islands to be strictly tapu and
proceeded to Rawhiti in the Bay of Islands some 40 miles north.
These islands lie 12 nautical miles off the Tutukaka
coast, north east from Whangarei and are the most northernmost islands of the Hauraki Gulf
park. It is recorded that on the 25th November 1760, Captain Cook when making his
way along the north east coast of New Zealand, discovered some islands where there were
cultivated lands and fortified villages. The two islands lying like recumbent effigies of
Crusaders, heads to the south, feet thrust towards the warm northern sun, these
Captain Cook named 'The Poor
Knights'.
It also thought that since Abel Tasman first named New Zealand's most northern islands the
"Three Kings" and Cook followed my naming the next islands found at a reasonable
distance off shore the "Knights". The High Peak Rocks known
locally as the Pinnacle and the Sugar Loaf were originally called the 'Poor
Squires'(see map) The Poor Squires name can be seen on James
Mackay's ( Civil Commissioner) Map of North Islands 1869 depicting the state of the native
tribes in the Taranaki wars. Appendix to Journals of House of Representatives 1870.
The Poor Knights were first purchased by a European, Mr. J.S. Pollock, in 1845. The
crown bought them in 1882, a year later designating them a lighthouse
reserve. Forty years later they became a scenic reserve and have been
fully protected since becoming a fauna and flora reserve in 1975, the strictest form of
preservation. A permit is needed to land. Today, apart from their scientific
interest, the Poor Knights because of their unique marine environments are mostly enjoyed
for scuba and snorkel, diving and sightseeing.
