After permanent Maori occupation ceased in the early nineteenth century, Ngāti Awa and Tūhoe continued to visit the island for sea food and muttonbirds and to collect stones for hāngī (underground ovens).

The island is now completely free of the goats, rats, cats and rabbits which previously devastated native plants and animals.

Sooty shearwaters, little blue penguins, the threatened New Zealand dotterel and variable oystercatchers also breed on the island.

Threatened species which are occasional visitors are the Caspian tern, the North Island kaka and New Zealand falcon.

Surrounding areas hosts rich marine ecosystem including cetaceans, oceanic birds, sharks.

[7] In March 1999 local Ngati Awa and the New Zealand Department of Conservation joined forces to see the fulfilment of a dream.

This relocation followed the traditional flight made centuries ago when the Mataatua waka (canoe) was accompanied by two tīeke from Repanga to Whakatāne.