There they will spend the next 3-6 years feeding off the Southern coasts. The Takapu Refuge, New Zealand's northernmost mainland gannet colony, located on Otakamiro Point-the headland between Maori Bay and Muriwai Beach at the southern end of the park. Motutara Island initially was a breeding place for the white tern, but gannets or Takapu, began breeding there in 1975 and spread to the headland by 1982. Two viewing platforms and shelter provide unhindered views of the birds. The colony is growing annually with almost one thousand pairs of adult birds nesting in the summer.
Gannets return to the same nest site each spring and generally mate for life.
They start breeding in August when the colony is full of noise and activity as the elaborate and graceful courting ritual takes place. After mating, one egg is laid, which is incubated in shifts by both birds. The gannets chick is borned naked and blind some 45 days later.