Karewa Island

Karewa (Māori: Te Motu o Karewa), is a small, 3.57 ha (8.8 acres), predator free wildlife sanctuary[1] in the Bay of Plenty. It is about 6 km (3.7 mi) off Matakana Island and administered by the Department of Conservation (DoC), with Ngāti Ranginui. Its main species are tuatara and flesh-footed shearwaters.[2] A legend of Taurikura relates how the tuatara on Karewa are descended from a chief's errant daughter.[3]

Karewa Island
Karewa Island in 1954
Karewa Island is located in New Zealand
Karewa Island
Karewa Island
Location of Karewa Island
Geography
LocationBay of Plenty region
Coordinates37.53012°S 176.13136°E / -37.53012; 176.13136
Area3.54 ha (8.7 acres)
Highest elevation79 m (259 ft)
Administration
New Zealand
Not to be confused with Kārewa / Gannet Island.

Natural history

Karewa is dominated by Taupata shrubland,[2] growing on a deep friable soil on its south and west slopes,[1] underlain by Pleistocene Minden rhyolite.[4] Under the Wildlife Sanctuary (Karewa Island) Order 1965, landing is prohibited without a DoC permit,[5] as it is a Government Purpose Wildlife Sanctuary under the Reserves Act 1977. The shearwaters nest in tunnels all over the island,[1] and breed from November to May. Many Diving petrels breed from August to February and grey-faced petrels / ōi also nest on Karewa, which used to be a traditional source of these titi (mutton birds) and also of pāua, cray and kina. The island is visited by kekeno seals and is a popular dive site, known for its variety of fish.[2]

Wreck

On the north side of the island, a large boiler remains[2] from the steamer Taranaki, wrecked in fog on 29 November 1878, on the way from Auckland to Tauranga and ports to the south. There were no deaths, as the 75 passengers were able to reach the island.[6] The Taranaki was a 415 grt steamer, launched in 1865 at the Castle Yard of Blackwood & Gordon in Port Glasgow for the NZ Steam Navigation Co.[7] She had previously sunk on Boat Harbour Rock (now called Taranaki Rock), at the entrance to Tory Channel / Kura Te Au,[8] on 19 August 1868, but had been taken over by the Union Company and raised and refitted in September 1869.[9] The Court of Inquiry found that the captain should have taken depth soundings and charged him the court costs, but didn't suspend him.[10] However, as the captain was popular for introducing regular shipping calls at Tauranga[11] he was given a presentation of appreciation a few weeks later.[12] The channel between the island and Matakana is about 11 fathoms (66 ft; 20 m) deep.[13]

See also
Karewa (left) from Mount Maunganui. Mayor Island / Tūhua is to the right.

References
  1. "Bay of Plenty Conservation Management Strategy Volume 1 1997-2007" (PDF). DoC.
  2. "Bay of Plenty Marine Oil Spill Contingency Plan" (PDF). 27 March 2018.
  3. "Taurikura". TE RŪNANGA O NGĀTI RANGINUI. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  4. "Auckland / Urban Geological Mapping". www.gns.cri.nz. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  5. "Wildlife Sanctuary (Karewa Island) Order 1965 (SR 1965/182) (as at 01 April 1987)". www.legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  6. "Latest Particulars. THAMES STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 30 Nov 1878. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  7. "Screw Steamer TARANAKI built by Blackwood & Gordon in 1866 for New Zealand Steam Nav Co, Wellington., Passenger / Cargo". www.clydeships.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  8. "Outer Sounds". cruiseguide.co.nz. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  9. "SS Taranaki (+1878)". 25 Oct 2013.
  10. "THE AFTERNOON SITTING. BAY OF PLENTY TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 7 Dec 1878. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  11. "BAY OF PLENTY TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 10 Dec 1878. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  12. "PRESENTATION TO CAPTAIN, MALCOLM. BAY OF PLENTY TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 28 Dec 1878. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  13. "Mayor Island to Town Point: hydrographic chart". University of Waikato. Retrieved 2021-11-20.

37.53012°S 176.13136°E / -37.53012; 176.13136

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.