Mokohinau Islands
Encyclopedia
The Mokohinau Islands are a small group of islands that lie off the northeast coast of New Zealand
's North Island
. The islands are 21 km (13 mi) northwest of Great Barrier Island
and approximately 52 km (32.3 mi) east of Bream Head
. Most of them are managed by the Department of Conservation
as nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. Landing is not allowed without a permit, with the exception of Burgess Island, much of which is managed as a scenic reserve
by the Department of Conservation. The remainder of Burgess Island is Crown Land
and is administered by the Ministry of Transport
.
The islands are volcanic stacks, sitting at the edge of the continental shelf. Nowadays free of mammalian pests again, the islands are being left to regenerate naturally, and are the home to a number of New Zealands smallest endangered species, such as the Mokohinau skink, the robust skink and the Mokohinau stag beetle as well as a number of endangered plant species.
Historically, the islands were often visited seasonally by Maori for muttonbirding
, harvesting the chicks of petrel
s for food and oil. Today, the main attractions for the rare tourists are the very clear waters teeming with wildlife.
Burgess Island is also the location of the Mokohinau Islands Lighthouse
, one of the most distant lights from the mainland. The light was built in 1883 and fully automated in 1980.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
. The islands are 21 km (13 mi) northwest of Great Barrier Island
Great Barrier Island
Great Barrier Island is a large island of New Zealand, situated to the north-east of central Auckland in the outer Hauraki Gulf. With an area of it is the fourth-largest island of New Zealand's main chain of islands, with its highest point, Mount Hobson, rising...
and approximately 52 km (32.3 mi) east of Bream Head
Bream Head
Bream Head is a promontory on the east coast of Northland in the North Island of New Zealand. Located at the end of a 30 kilometre-long peninsula, the head juts into the Pacific Ocean to the southeast of Whangarei...
. Most of them are managed by the Department of Conservation
New Zealand Department of Conservation
The Department of Conservation , commonly known by its acronym, "DOC", is the state sector organisation which deals with the conservation of New Zealand’s natural and historic heritage...
as nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. Landing is not allowed without a permit, with the exception of Burgess Island, much of which is managed as a scenic reserve
Country park
A country park is an area designated for people to visit and enjoy recreation in a countryside environment.-History:In the United Kingdom the term 'Country Park' has a special meaning. There are over 400 Country Parks in England alone . Most Country Parks were designated in the 1970s, under the...
by the Department of Conservation. The remainder of Burgess Island is Crown Land
Crown land
In Commonwealth realms, Crown land is an area belonging to the monarch , the equivalent of an entailed estate that passed with the monarchy and could not be alienated from it....
and is administered by the Ministry of Transport
Ministry of Transport (New Zealand)
The Ministry of Transport is the New Zealand Government's principal transport policy adviser. It leads and generates policy, and the government's New Zealand Transport Strategy provides the framework within which transport policy is developed...
.
The islands are volcanic stacks, sitting at the edge of the continental shelf. Nowadays free of mammalian pests again, the islands are being left to regenerate naturally, and are the home to a number of New Zealands smallest endangered species, such as the Mokohinau skink, the robust skink and the Mokohinau stag beetle as well as a number of endangered plant species.
Historically, the islands were often visited seasonally by Maori for muttonbirding
Muttonbirding
Muttonbirding is a seasonal harvesting activity, which may be recreational or commercial, of the chicks of petrels, especially shearwater species, for food, oil and feathers...
, harvesting the chicks of petrel
Petrel
Petrels are tube-nosed seabirds in the bird order Procellariiformes. The common name does not indicate relationship beyond that point, as "petrels" occur in three of the four families within that group...
s for food and oil. Today, the main attractions for the rare tourists are the very clear waters teeming with wildlife.
Burgess Island is also the location of the Mokohinau Islands Lighthouse
Mokohinau Islands Lighthouse
Mokohinau Islands Lighthouse is a lighthouse on Burgess Island, one of the Mokohinau Islands, which lie of the northeast coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is owned and operated by Maritime New Zealand....
, one of the most distant lights from the mainland. The light was built in 1883 and fully automated in 1980.