Ripapa Island has re-opened to the public. Ripapa Island, located off the shore of Lyttelton Harbour, has been closed since the February 22, 2011, earthquake. Residents and Lyttelton Primary School pupils retraced the footsteps of Ngāti Wheke ancestors during the event. DOC and Ngāti Wheke jointly manage the category one heritage area and have spent $100,000 repairing the island’s historic wharf. “A tōpuni was placed over Ripapa in recognition of the significant cultural, spiritual, historic and traditional values of the island for mana whenua.”

Source: Otago Daily Times November 27, 2019 00:56 UTC