Motu Kōkako, also known as Piercy Island or "The Hole In The Rock”, where Zane Grey, the noted author and angler, was based in the 1920s. The island is located off the north coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is at the very northern tip of Rakaumangamanga (Cape Brett) in the Bay of Islands. It is Māori freehold land, which is administered by the Motu Kōkako Ahu Whenua Trust for the benefit of the descendants of the traditional owners.
The island is of great cultural significance to the Ngāpuhi iwi, and was historically associated with a range of sacred customary activities. Motu Kōkako was said to be the landing place of the canoe Tūnui-a-rangi before it went to Ngunguru and Whāngārei. It brings to mind the whakataukī 'Te toka tū moana' (the rock standing in the sea). This refers to a person who stands against all adversity, just as a rock resists the power of the sea.
It is probably the most important island in the Bay of Islands in conservation terms, being in near pristine condition, with no evidence of introduced animals. A 1987 survey of the island found 99 different types of flora, and noted the presence of two types of petrels and lizards.
The island itself was named Piercy Island by Captain Cook in honor of one of the Lords of the Admiralty – it is called Motu Kōkako in the Māori language.
The 60-foot (18 m) hole at sea level was created over centuries by wind and waves making it one of the most naturally beautiful sites in New Zealand. Being a popular tourist destination there are a multitude of tours offered and if the waters are calm and the tide is right the jet boats will go right through the hole. There are also helicopter tours to the island.
Category:Travel and Places
Subcategory:Australia and Oceania
Subcategory Detail:New Zealand