Stewart Island / Rakiura

Stewart Island / Rakiura is New Zealand’s third-largest island, lying south of the South Island across Foveaux Strait. Most of it is protected within Rakiura National Park.

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Foveaux Strait: The strait separating Stewart Island / Rakiura from New Zealand’s South Island. This stretch of water defines the island’s northern boundary and its connection to the mainland.
Oban, New Zealand: The principal settlement on Stewart Island / Rakiura, located at Halfmoon Bay. Oban is the island’s service hub and the main base for visitors.
Stewart Island kiwi: The southern brown kiwi population found on Stewart Island / Rakiura, including birds active in daylight. The island is a rare place to encounter kiwi outside strictly nocturnal conditions.
Ngāi Tahu: The principal Māori iwi of the South Island and its associated islands, including Stewart Island / Rakiura. Ngāi Tahu history and authority are central to the island’s identity and place names.
Introduced predators of New Zealand: Mammalian predators introduced to New Zealand, including rats, stoats, and cats, that threaten native wildlife. Predation has shaped conservation decisions for vulnerable species on and near the island.
Rakiura National Park: A national park covering about 85 percent of Stewart Island / Rakiura. Its forests, coastlines, and tracks protect most of the island’s interior.
Stewart Island ferry: A passenger ferry service crossing Foveaux Strait between Bluff and Stewart Island / Rakiura. The crossing is a principal route connecting the island with the South Island.
Kākāpō: A large, flightless, nocturnal parrot endemic to New Zealand and critically endangered. Stewart Island once held a major wild population before introduced predators prompted relocation.
Māori settlement of Rakiura: The long history of Māori occupation, travel, and resource use on Stewart Island / Rakiura. Māori connections to the island predate European exploration and settlement by centuries.
New Zealand island restoration: Conservation work that removes introduced species and restores native ecosystems on New Zealand islands. Nearby sanctuary islands extend the protection possible within inhabited Stewart Island.