As part of the Year 7 EOTC programme, students explored Christchurch’s very own island! Quail Island is known as Ōtamahua, which means the place where Ngāi Tahu children collected sea birds’ eggs.

Taking the Canterbury Cat Island ferry from Lyttelton we spent a fascinating day exploring Quail Island named after the now-extinct native quail (koreke). The island was originally used as a quarantine station and as a small leprosy colony by the early European settlers. At the same time as the lepers were confined to their one small bay, Antarctic explorers, Scott and Shackleton took advantage of the island to train their sled dogs and ponies before setting off on their ill-fated voyages. The last polar explorer to quarantine dogs on the island was American Commander Byrd, whose huskies were interned there between 1928 and 1930.

More recently the addition of a large pou whenua is a welcome sight for tangata whenua, on an island with a long and rich history. The idea for the pou whenua came from Whakaraupō Carving Centre and was completed as part of a regeneration plan led by Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke around areas of cultural significance in Whakaraupō.

Our students loved their day exploring the island, as reflected in their memoir comments:

• “I felt a bit nervous about going to Quail Island, I didn’t even know Quail Island existed but once we got to the dock, my excitement overcame my nervousness, as I realised how fun it was going to be”. - Alex

• “I learned that people who had leprosy were quarantined there, and dogs and horses were also quarantined there for 3 months. Life for the people on the island who had leprosy would have been cold and lonely”. - Elise

• “It was a great walk around the island and when we climbed to the Pou Whenua we could see the whole harbour and Lyttelton harbour where we came from”. - Brydie

• “I loved the walk around the island to test my abilities and thought the views were awesome. I loved the shipwreck because it was so interesting” - Emily

• “I enjoyed hanging out with my friends and making new ones”. - Genevieve

• “On the way to Quail Island, I liked the boat ride because me and my friends were getting sprayed by the water, it was so fun”. - Seb

• “I enjoyed the boat ride because the boat went quite fast. I also liked seeing the leprosy hut and the view from it”. - Khaya

Thanks to all the adult supervisors who joined us on our Quail Island Adventure.