Resolution Island (New Zealand)

Resolution Island or Tau Moana (Māori[2]) is the largest island in the Fiordland region of southwest New Zealand, covering a total of 208 km2 (80 sq mi). It is the country's seventh largest island, and the second largest uninhabited island. Resolution Island is separated from the mainland of the South Island by Dusky Sound and Breaksea Sound. The island is part of the Fiordland National Park.

Resolution from the North - Near the Gilbert Islands
For other Resolution Islands, see Resolution Island (disambiguation).

Resolution Island
Tau Moana (Māori)
Resolution Island
Geography
Coordinates45°40′S 166°40′E
ArchipelagoNew Zealand
Area208.87 km2 (80.65 sq mi)[1]
Highest elevation1,069 m (3507 ft)
Highest pointMount Clerke
Administration
Demographics
Population0

The island is roughly rectangular, with the exception of a long narrow peninsula on the west coast known as Five Fingers Peninsula: an area protected by the Taumoana (Five Fingers Peninsula) Marine Reserve.

The island is named after Capt. James Cook's ship Resolution which landed here on Dusky Sound during Cook's Second Voyage in March 1773.

The island was chosen in 2004 to be one of New Zealand's offshore reserves, which are cleared of introduced species to protect native species. This follows a much earlier episode, in 1894, when the Department of Lands and Survey appointed Richard Henry as curator of the island, which was stocked with species such as kakapo and kiwi that were threatened by mustelids on the mainland. This early attempt at using the island for conservation management failed when stoats reached the island in 1900.

On 15 July 2009, Resolution island was at the epicenter of a magnitude 7.8 earthquake.[3]

Flora

The island is an important sanctuary, not only because it has never been colonised by possums, but also because it contains much ecological diversity in habitats ranging from wetlands to forests to alpine areas, with the highest mountains on the island reaching around 1,000 m. The most widespread forest type on the island is beech-broadleaved forest, while the alpine areas comprise mainly tussock, but also wetlands and tarns. Over 400 indigenous species have been recorded on the island, which is considerably more than on the surrounding mainland.[4] Among the plants are six endangered species, such as several types of endemic mistletoe, and over a dozen nationally uncommon species. Many of these plants suffer elsewhere in Fiordland from browsing by possums.[5]

Fauna

The only introduced mammals on the island are stoats, red deer and mice.[4] Ongoing stoat and rat control since 2008 allows the island to be used as a sanctuary. Pest trapping is being used on the island by laying trap networks including various DOC traps, and Goodnature A24 traps to aid in bringing the pest populations down to improve the environment for threatened bird species such as the mohua (yellowhead)[6] and tieke (saddleback).[7] Many other native bird species can be found on the island, including karearea (New Zealand falcon), kaka, kea, and kiwi.[8]

See also

References
  1. "Tamatea/Dusky Sound convervation and restoration plan" (PDF). Department of Conservation. p. 20. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  2. Fletcher, H.J. Index of Māori Names: Tarepa to Tawake Moe Tahanga Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  3. "More than 220 quake claims registered". Stuff.co.nz. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
  4. "Vegetation and flora inventory of Resolution Island" (PDF). Department of Conservation. p. 2. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  5. "Vegetation and flora inventory of Resolution Island" (PDF). Department of Conservation. p. 19. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  6. Neil Ratley (7 November 2013). "Island move gives birds better shot at survival". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  7. "Endangered saddleback find new home in Fiordland". Department of Conservation. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  8. "Vegetation and flora inventory of Resolution Island" (PDF). Department of Conservation. p. 22. Retrieved 13 October 2017.

Further reading
  • Hill, Susanne; & Hill, John. (1987). Richard Henry of Resolution Island. John McIndoe: Dunedin. ISBN 0-86868-094-X
  • Wilson, Kerry-Jayne. (2004). Flight of the Huia. Canterbury University Press: Christchurch. ISBN 0-908812-52-3
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