Rakiura Stewart Island

Captain Cook was the first European to sight the Island in 1770, but thought it to be a part of the South Island so named it South Cape. In the 1800’s Europeans arrived to exploit the booming seal and whale industries.

Fishing has always provided a source of income for permanent residents and today the blue cod, crayfish and oyster industries support the Island along with farmed salmon and mussels.

Much of the Island has been long set aside as nature reserves so farming and clear felling forestry have not destroyed the native forests. Now, 80% of the Island is protected as Rakiura National Park.

A small tourism industry has slowly grown over the last 100 years – the Island is a haven for visitors who love its slow pace and connection with nature.

There are many species of birds on Stewart Island that thrive because of the absence of cats, rats, stoats, ferrets, weasels and other predators that man has brought to the main islands. Concerted conservation efforts by the Islanders and New Zealand’s Department of Conservation keep predator numbers down and support threatened species.

The birds of Stewart Island include weka, kaka, albatross, the flightless Stewart Island kiwi, silvereyes, fantails, and kereru (wood pigeon). The endangered Yellow-eyed penguin has a significant number of breeding sites here and there are large colonies of Sooty Shearwaters on the offshore Muttonbird Islands.