Moturoa Island (Bay of Islands)
 Western tip of Moturoa Island, Kent Passage to the left | |
  Moturoa Island | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Bay of Islands |
| Coordinates | 35°12′37″S 174°05′22″E / 35.21028°S 174.08944°E |
| Length | 2.95 km (1.833 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 82 m (269 ft) |
| Administration | |
Moturoa Island is a small island in the Bay of Islands of New Zealand, located about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) northwest of Russell.[1] It is about 360 metres (1,180 ft) from the mainland, separated by the Kent Passage. The nearest point is known as Day Point.
Moturoa is adjacent to Black Rocks and Battleship Rock.
There are approximately 25 houses on the island, all situated on the western side. Moturoa is owned by 21 families but only has a few permanent residents.[2]
Bird Life
[edit]Moturoa Island is home to a number of birds including the Kiwi, New Zealand dotterels, Variable Oystercatcher, Brown Teal, North Island Robins, Reischek's Parakeet,[3] Little Blue Penguin, the Brown Quail, and many more.[4]
Kiwi were reintroduced to the island in 1984–85, with seven (including three breeding pairs) transported from Waitangi.[2][4] The reintroduction was very successful - Kiwi numbers today have soared. A local landowner said there was 'great debate' over how many Kiwi live on the island, but 'estimates range from 100-300'.[2]
In 2024, 21 kiwi were removed from the island to ease pressure on their habitat and food sources. These removed Kiwi were safely transported and introduced into the Ōpua State Forest.[2]
In 2009 the DOC received a report of a Kiwi trapped in the WWII gun emplacements at the eastern end of the island - volunteers successfully found and freed the bird.[3]
To protect the bird life, there is an active pest eradication in action on the Island.
Etymology
[edit]In Māori, motu means island[5] and roa can mean either long or refer to the great spotted kiwi.[6] The name Moturoa is likely to come form the long, thin shape of the island.
References
[edit]- ^ "Moturoa Island, Northland – NZ Topo Map". NZ Topo Map. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d "A Northland island has a very unusual problem... too many kiwi". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Newsletter of the Far North Region of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand" (PDF). Birds NZ.
- ^ a b Ralph, C John. "Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Moturoa Island, Bay of Islands". Sonic.net. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Motu". Te Aka Maori Dictionary.
- ^ "roa". Te Aka Maori Dictionary.
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