History
Every gathering here adds to a story that began long before the Estate did.
The Island
Known to Mana Whenua as Te Motu a Hiaroa, Puketutu Island lies off the coast of Māngere in the Manukau Harbour. It was the first permanent home of the crew of the Tainui waka in Aotearoa, and it holds deep significance for the people of Te Kawerau ā Maki, Te Waiohua, and Waikato-Tainui. That connection to the land continues to shape the island today.
The Estate
For nearly half a century from 1852, the island was held by Sir John Logan Campbell, one of the founding figures of Auckland. In 1938 it passed to Sir Henry Kelliher, who made it his permanent home. He planted the tree-lined driveway you'll arrive along, ran a celebrated stud farm, and drew remarkable people to the island for decades.
After Sir Henry's death in 1991, the Kelliher Charitable Trust chose to restore the island rather than develop it. Every garden terrace, every stone wall, every established tree was tended back to its best. The homestead was lovingly returned to its original character. It was a labour of love, and the result is what you'll walk into today.
Today
The ancient terracing remains. The harbour sits where it always has. The stillness that has drawn people here for six hundred years hasn't gone anywhere.
When you celebrate here, you become part of our story.
Come and see it for yourself
Connect with our team to explore possibilities and start planning the first steps of your Puketutu journey.