In 1848 the island was leased from the Parawhau hapū by Robert Carruth and Mathew Whitelaw who established a limeworks there, using the local limestone.

In 1881 the first batch of Portland cement was produced, with the limeworks becoming a major local industry employing 270 people at its peak in the early 20th century.

As part of the Department of Conservation's Operation Nest Egg Program numerous chicks have been released on the island because of its largely predator-free status.

It has proved a safe place for them to grow to 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) or more in weight in 12–18 months, at which stage they are able to defend themselves from most predators and are released back to the mainland.

The transferred chicks were banded and it is expected that the first birds should begin returning to Matakohe three to five years after fledging, to start prospecting for suitable nesting burrows and partners.

However, due to the proximity of the mainland and easy access across mudflats at low tide, rats, stoats and weasels are still occasional visitors to the Island.