Seminars

#2606 Kapiti Island: a human history focus

Speaker John Barrett

Date Saturday 18th April 2026  10am-1pm

Venue Waikanae Presbyterian Church Hall, 43 Ngaio Road, Waikanae

John Barrett is the Chairman and founder of Kāpiti Island Nature Tours and Nature Lodge; a Māori family-operated, multi-award-winning tourism business, located on one of New Zealand’s premier nature reserves. The business is strongly focused on developing whanau, hapu and Iwi members into tourism and conservation work that is meaningful financially, culturally, environmentally and socially. In recent years more focus has been on regional and national historical narrative associated with Kāpiti Island. John is active within his tribes; Ngati Raukawa, Te Ati Awa and Ngati Toarangatira. He has 40+ years of management and governance experience in a range of private and public organisations and enterprises. John is a foundation member of the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance Leadership Council.

In this seminar, John will give a version of events that have shaped the historical importance of Kāpiti Island; from the time of the New Zealand Company settlements and interaction with Ngatitoa chief Te Rauparaha. He will discuss settlement patterns around the Wellington region and “top o the south”, the impact of whaling, trading, farming and eventually conservation activity leading to the development of one of our finest nature reserves.