 Ringaringa Beach and Native Island off the coast of Stewart Island, New Zealand | |
 | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Paterson Inlet,Stewart Island |
| Coordinates | 46°54′55″S168°09′10″E / 46.91528°S 168.15278°E /-46.91528; 168.15278 |
| Area | 29,575.19[1] km2 (11,419.04 sq mi) |
| Length | 1.0 km (0.62 mi) |
| Width | 0.7 km (0.43 mi) |
| Administration | |
New Zealand | |
| Region | Southland |
| Demographics | |
| Population | uninhabited |
Native Island is off the east coast ofHalfmoon Bay,Stewart Island, New Zealand. It is north east ofUlva Island in the northern mouth ofPaterson Inlet.[2] It is separated from Stewart Island by a narrow channel 50 metres (160 ft) in width. There has been evidence of small and temporary past Māori settlements on the island.[3][4] Multiple Māori relics have been found, including bone fish hooks, axes, and chisels.[3] Native Island is part of theUlva Island-Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve, which is on the south part of Native Island.[5]
In the early 19th century, there were Māori battles fought on Native Island.[6] The island was deserted in the 1840s after visiting ships broughtmeasles, triggering a deadly epidemic.[7] Survivors held akorero and agreed to set fire to their homes before leaving the island.[7]
In the AntarcticSouthern Cross Expedition in 1898–1900, 92 huskies,Samoyeds and GreenlandEsquimaux dogs were held in Native Island (with government reluctance) for temporary quarantine and examination.[8][9][10][11] Due to quarantine regulations, most of the dogs were killed, but a few were kept under permission from MPJoseph Ward on the premise that they could be used for a future expedition.[12][13][14] Nine descendants of these dogs were used inErnest Shackleton's 1907–1909Nimrod Expedition.[10][15]
In 1927 a large piece ofambergris was found on the island.[16] The following year, the whalerC. A. Larsen, a Norwegian factory ship, was towed and beached near Native Island after it went aground at Whero Rock.[7] The ship's tanks leaked 2,000 tons of whale oil into the sea, causing long-term damage to the shell beds off Ringaringa Beach on Stewart Island.[7]
In 1944 it was reported that there wererabbits in Native Island after being released in Stewart Island a year prior. The rabbits were described like a pest—eating exposed roots of trees;[17] there were also goats, but it has been reported that neither now inhabit the island.[18] In 2013 theDepartment of Conservation started a rat-trap test on Native Island, planting around 140 self-settingGoodnature A24 traps which were checked every 4 to 5 weeks in order to control the island'sship andNorway rat populations. A year later, sniffer dogs could not detect any rats on the island.[15][19]
In 2021 it was considered to put a wind farm on Native Island, but this was ultimately scrapped due to the difficulty of making the transmission route, anticipated lack of wind, that half of the island is a national park, and cultural value that is associated with Native Island.[20]
Fossils ofSouth Island giant moa have been found on Native Island.[21]Rhytida australis snails are common,[22] and Native Island also hasTuatara.[23]
According to nature writerSheila Natusch, sand-fixing plant life on the island includescoprosma,muehlenbeckia,golden sand sedge (pikao), and pink-floweredconvolvulus.[24]
Anglo-Norwegian polar explorer Carsten Egeberg Borchgrevink (1864 –1934), released his Siberian sled dogs on Native Island on the return voyage of his 1899–1900 expedition. In preparation for his 1907–1909 expedition, Ernest Shackleton purchased from a breeder in Stewart Island nine sled dogs descended from those released by Borchgrevink seven years earlier.