Titi / Muttonbird Islands

Muttonbird Islands
Motu Tītī (Māori)
Geography
Administration
Demographics
Population Seasonally inhabited; no permanent population
Ethnic groups Rakiura Māori

The Tītī or Muttonbird Islands are located near Stewart Island / Rakiura in the far south of New Zealand. The islands are not permanently inhabited, and are named for the traditional harvesting ("muttonbirding") of the sooty shearwater by Māori. These birds are known as "muttonbirds" due to their supposedly mutton-like taste.

History

In May 2006, the north-eastern chain was the scene of tragedy when the fishing boat Kotuku capsized with the loss of six lives, close to Women's Island.[1]

Description

There are three chains, collectively referred to as the Muttonbird or Tītī islands. The north-eastern chain lies in Foveaux Strait, to the north-east of Stewart Island, between it and Ruapuke Island. A small eastern chain, south of Stewart Island's East Cape, also goes by the name of the Breaksea Islands. The southern chain lies to the south-west of Stewart Island.

Islands

North-eastern chain 46°51′S 168°15′E / 46.850°S 168.250°E / -46.850; 168.250
North, Women's, Edwards, Jacky lee, Herekopare and Kanetetoe Islands; The Bunker Islets, and Fish Rock.
Eastern chain 47°06′S 168°12′E / 47.100°S 168.200°E / -47.100; 168.200
Rukawahakura, Takawini, Potuatua, Pomatakiarehua, Kaihuka and Wharepuaitaha Islands.
Southern, or south-western, chain 47°13′S 167°25′E / 47.217°S 167.417°E / -47.217; 167.417
Four distinct groups of islands make up the south-western chain. Close to Stewart island's south-westernmost point is Taukihepa / Big South Cape Island, close to which lie Poutama, Putauhina, Solomon, Kaimohu, Pukaparara, Tamaitemioka and Pohowaitai Islands and the Putauhina Nuggets. In the open sea 8 km to the north lie Big Moggy, Little Moggy and Mokinui Islands. To the east of these, close to Stewart Island, the 'Boat Group' consists of Big, Kundy, Betsy and Rat Islands. To the south of these lie the small rocky islets of The Brothers. The southern Muttonbird Islands have been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because of their significance as a breeding site for sooty shearwaters, with over a million breeding pairs, and mottled petrels.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kotuku tragedy highlights decaying fleet, Professional Skipper 63, May/June 2008, 80-81.
  2. ↑ BirdLife International. (2012). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Southern Muttonbird Islands. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 2012-02-01.
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