Hauturu/Little Barrier Island
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Hauturu/Little Barrier Island lies off the northeastern coast of New Zealand's North Island. It is 80 kilometres (50 miles) to the north of Auckland. The island is separated from the mainland to the west by Jellicoe Channel, and from the larger Great Barrier Island to the east by Cradock Channel. The two aptly named islands shelter the Hauraki Gulf from many of the storms of the Pacific Ocean.
Colloquially known as Little Barrier, the island is steeply sloping, rising to 722 metres (2,360 ft). Roughly circular in shape, it covers 28 km² (11 miles²). Uninhabited except for rotational conservation staff, it is one of New Zealand's premier native wildlife sanctuaries and thus access is heavily restricted. The island was named Hauturu, meaning resting place of the winds, reputedly by the Polynesian explorer Toi. Along with its larger neighbour, it was given its English name by Captain James Cook on November 23, 1769.
[edit] External link
- Department of Conservation - Little Barrier Island (Hauturu) Nature Reserve
- Cultural Heritage of the Gulf (brief history on page 5)
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