The Emtages of Motuora Island
It’s a stunning 80-hectare island lying between the northern entrance of the Mahurangi Harbour and the southern entrance to Kawau Island. After John and Charlotte Chandler bought it from Sir George Grey in 1880 it got the name ‘Chandler’s Island’. Coastal skipper George Samuel Emtage was closely associated with the childless Chandlers and lived there almost continuously from 1892.
George was born at Bridgetown, Barbados on 29 May 1859 and went to sea at the age of 12. He arrived in Auckland in the full-rigged ship in 1874. He was mugged and robbed ashore and the ship sailed without him. He survived by doing harsh bushwork in the forest of Great Barrier Island but later went to sea in coasting cutters. After serving in 14 vessels he received and .
