Maud Island

Maud Island, also called Te Hoiere in the Māori language, is one of the larger islands in the Marlborough Sounds on the northern tip of the South Island of New Zealand, with a total area of 320 ha (790 acres).

Maud Island
Maori: Te Hoiere
Maud Island viewed from northeast
Geography
LocationPelorus Sound
Coordinates41°02′S 173°53′E
Length3.5 km (2.17 mi)
Highest elevation368 m (1,207 ft)
Administration
Demographics
Population0

Fauna

Maud Island is an important predator free nature reserve (officially a Scientific Reserve as defined under New Zealand's Reserves Act) to which only scientists and conservationists have access. Visitors need a special permit issued by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.

Thanks to the efforts of conservationist Don Merton the kakapo was introduced onto the predator-free island in 1974. Additional kakapo were subsequently translocated onto other Islands like Codfish Island, Anchor Island and Little Barrier Island.

After only one breeding attempt by pair Flossie and Richard Henry in 1998 where three chicks were born, Maud Island's kakapo population was translocated to more forested islands. The takahe was also introduced there in 1985.

Another rare species is the Maud Island frog (Leiopelma pakeka), which was split from the Hamilton's frog (Leiopelma hamiltoni) in 1998 and is now seen as its own species. Maud Island has a rich invertebrate fauna. Weta are numerous with tree weta, cave weta and Cook Strait giant weta likely to be seen at night. A large weevil, the flax weevil can be seen on flax and the rare Cook Strait click beetle is also present on the island.[1]

Name

The island's two names, Maud Island and Te Hoiere, were both given official status in 1948.[2]

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See also

References
  1. "Features of Maud Island". Department of Conservation.
  2. "New Zealand gazetteer – search for Maud Island". Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 7 November 2015.

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