Forgotten Histories

Matiu Island

In 1872 a ship sailed into Wellington Harbour flying the dreaded yellow flag: smallpox was aboard. This began an intriguing and sad new history for Matiu Island.

If you’ve ever driven along the Wellington motorway, you’ve driven past Matiu Island. My boy is fascinated with the Island. Together we started learning its history and that would eventually become the inspiration for this artwork.

Previously an idyllic picnic destination, the island was transformed into a quarantine camp. For 42 years the island remained a place where people were cast out from society and sent to die.

In 1914 the island extended its hospitality to those considered ‘enemy aliens’. People deemed enemies of the state were rounded up and incarcerated there. The same would happen again in 1945, though not before a man was held there in 1937 under suspicion of creating a ‘death ray’.

‘Forgotten Histories’ is a tribute to the dozens of people that lost their lives in the untamed solitude that was Matiu Island. May they forever find the peace in death that eluded them in life.

Location

Matiu Island is the largest of three islands in the northern half of Wellington Harbour.

It was given its name by Kupe 1000 years ago, named after one of his daughters. Kupe was the first navigator to reach Aotearoa and return home with knowledge of the new land.

For generations, Māori occupied the island and used it as an important strategic pa site.