Stewart Island

For the island in the Indian Ocean, see Stewart Island (Andaman Islands).
Not to be confused with Sikaiana, formerly called the Stewart Islands, in the Solomon Islands; or Steward Island in Greenland.
"Rakiura" redirects here. For the insect, see Rakiura vernale.

Stewart Island
Rakiura (Māori)
Geography
LocationFoveaux Strait
Coordinates47°00′S 167°50′E / 47.00°S 167.84°E / -47.00; 167.84
ArchipelagoNew Zealand archipelago
Area1,747.72 km2 (674.80 sq mi)[1]
Highest elevation980 m (3220 ft)
Highest pointMount Anglem / Hananui
Administration
ElectoratesInvercargill (general)
Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
MPsPenny Simmonds (New Zealand National Party)
Tākuta Ferris (Te Pāti Māori)
Local Government
Regional CouncilEnvironment Southland
Largest settlementOban
Territorial authoritySouthland District
Community BoardStewart Island/Rakiura Community Board[2]
Demographics
Population460 (June 2024)[3]
Pop. density0.26/km2 (0.67/sq mi)

Stewart Island (Māori: Rakiura, lit. 'glowing skies', officially Stewart Island / Rakiura, formerly New Leinster) is New Zealand's third-largest island, located 30 kilometres (16 nautical miles) south of the South Island, across Foveaux Strait. It is a roughly triangular island with a total land area of 1,746 km2 (674 sq mi). Its 164-kilometre (102 mi) coastline is deeply indented by Paterson Inlet (east), Port Pegasus (south), and Mason Bay (west). The island is generally hilly (rising to 980 metres or 3,220 feet at Mount Anglem) and densely forested. Flightless birds, including penguins, thrive because there are few introduced predators. Almost all the island is owned by the New Zealand government, and over 80 per cent of the island is set aside as the Rakiura National Park.

Stewart Island's economy depends on fishing and summer tourism. Its permanent population was recorded at 408 people in the 2018 census,[4] most of whom live in the settlement of Oban on the eastern side of the island. Ferries connect the settlement to Bluff in the South Island. Stewart Island is part of the Southland District for local government purposes.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Area was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Stewart Island/Rakiura Community Board". Southland District Council. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Census 2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).