Gulf island veteran fights DoC eviction

Ronnie Harrison

A long-time resident of one of the Hauraki Gulf's most popular islands is asking the High Court to stop the Department of Conservation evicting her.

Ronnie Harrison, 61, has lived on Motuihe Island for 22 years with partner Terry Gibbons, for most of that time running the island's kiosk, small farm and catering business.

She ran the businesses under a DoC "concession".

Mrs Harrison was reluctant to comment yesterday. "I'm trying not to do any damage to this place that I care about so much," she said.

In recent years she has been heavily involved in efforts to turn the popular boating and swimming spot into a wildlife sanctuary where visitors might one day mingle with some of New Zealand's rarest species, including kiwi.

She was given her marching orders late last year because, DoC said, she had not been able to invest in facilities and run the concession the way the department wanted it run.

The kiosk burned down four years ago, and has not been replaced.

Mrs Harrison's last agreement with DoC was in 1999, said DoC Auckland area manager Beau Fraser. It was for 18 years, with six-year renewals.

The conditions included investing money in visitor facilities.

"There were a number of requirements Ronnie had to address in the first six years that she wasn't able to," Mr Fraser said.

"Ronnie is a great individual and she's put a lot of herself into that island and personally I feel really sorry for her.

"But in terms of the concession, she has created these circumstances."

The Herald understands Mrs Harrison tried to sell the concession, but no one wanted it.

Motuihe Island Trust chairman John Laurence said the trust, which is leading the restoration effort, would not exist but for Mrs Harrison.

"She's been a huge tower of strength to Motuihe and the community should be proud of the work she has done," he said. "She was the person who formed the trust and started the restoration."