Tiritiri Matangi Island
Geography | |
---|---|
Location | Hauraki Gulf |
Coordinates | 36°36′S 174°53′E / 36.60°S 174.89°E |
Archipelago | New Zealand archipelago |
Area | 2.2 km2 (0.85 sq mi) |
Administration | |
New Zealand | |
Demographics | |
Population | 0 |
Tiritiri Matangi Island is located in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand, 3.4 km (2.1 mi) east of the Whangaparāoa Peninsula[1] in the North Island and 30 km (19 mi) north east of Auckland. The 2.2 km2 (1 sq mi) island is an open nature reserve[1] managed by the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi Incorporated, under the supervision of the Department of Conservation and is noted for its bird life, including takahē, North Island kōkako and kiwi. It attracts between 30,000 and 32,000 visitors a year, the latter figure being the maximum allowed by the Auckland Conservation Management Strategy.[1]
The name, Māori for "tossed by the wind", is often popularly shortened to Tiritiri. Māori mythology considers the island to be a float of an ancestral fishing net.[2]
Geography
The island is located on the Hibiscus Coast[3] to the east of Whangaparāoa Peninsula, and is composed of ancient greywacke rock.[4]
History
Human use
The first people to settle on the island were
European (Pākehā) settlers arrived in the early 19th century. In 1841 Ngāti Pāoa sold the land to the crown as part of the Mahurangi Block. When the Kawerau returned, friction ensued as both peoples had a claim to the island. In 1867 the Māori Land Court awarded title to the Crown.
A lighthouse was constructed near the southern end in 1864, and remains in operation. In 1956, a xenon light source was fitted to the lighthouse, creating the most powerful light-beam achieved at the time by a New Zealand lighthouse. It had an output of 11 million candle-power and a range of 58 nautical miles, making it one of the most powerful lights in the world; most lights shone for 27 nautical miles.[5]
The island was farmed from the 1863 to 1971 by the Hobbs family, who also owned land on the peninsula.[6][4] when the lease expired. Management was then vested in the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park Board.[1]
Regeneration and sanctuary
While originally forested, the island developed into pasture by the mid-20th century.
The next intervention was eradication in 1993 of the Polynesian rat, known to Māori as kiore, which was destroying seedlings and competing with birds for food. The kiore were killed by an aerial drop of poisoned bait, which was controversial due to its lack of planning and the effect on other wildlife. For instance, 90% of pūkeko on the island were killed, though the resident takahē were kept in an enclosure for the duration of the poisoning.[7]
Eighty-seven species of birds have been observed on or near the island. Eleven native species have been
Non-avian translocations include 60
A ferry service runs from Auckland Ferry Terminal[2] and Gulf Harbour, and guided tours are available. It is a popular destination for daytrippers, with trips often fully booked,[2] attracting some 30,000 visitors annually, who enjoy an intensity of birdsong rarely heard on the mainland. The island has hosted several tens of thousands of conservation volunteers.[2]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Auckland Places - Tiritiri Matangi Island". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Government of New Zealand. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, Part 2". Inset to The New Zealand Herald. 3 March 2010. p. 8.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-473-13484-6.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-86962-1513.
- ^ "Timeline - Maritime NZ".
- ISBN 978-186979-185-8.
- ^ Armstrong, Doug (1999). Tiritiri Matangi Island Restoration Programme - Kiore eradication. Massey University. Archived via WebCite on 21 April 2011.
- ^ Tiritiri Matangi Ecosystem Restoration (from the Department of Conservation website)
- ^ "Tiritiri Matangi: An education resource for schools" (PDF). DOC. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
External links
- Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi - conservation group
- Tiritiri Matangi Scientific Reserve (Open Sanctuary) at the Department of Conservation
- Audio tour of Tiritiri Matangi, part 1 (Graeme Hill)
- Audio tour of Tiritiri Matangi, part 2 (Graeme Hill)
- Photographs of Tiritiri Matangi Island held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections.
- Geographic data related to Tiritiri Matangi Island at OpenStreetMap