Matakana Island

Matakana Iceland is an island in the western Bay of Plenty on the North Island of New Zealand.

Geography

The flat, around 60 km ² island extends from Tauranga with a length of less than 25 km in a north-westerly direction. The width of the island is usually between one and three kilometers. Almost in the center lying on the populated part, it widens to just over six kilometers. The southeastern end of the island together with the lie on the opposite side of the mountain Mauao, who is regarded as the remnant of an ancient volcanic cone, the 800 m wide entrance to the Port of Tauranga. At the same time the Straits and access to the completed by the Matakana Island from the South Pacific shallow waters Tauranga Harbour are but free. The northeastern completion of the island, the so-called Katikati entrance fee of Bowen Town Heads not far from Athenree represents the island can be reached via Omokoroa by means of a ferry and from the Port of Tauranga from a boat daily from the mainland.

Population

At the reporting date the census in 2006 there were 225 inhabitants on the island, and thus 63 fewer than in 2001. The decline in population numbers by 21.9 % can be due to the remoteness of the island probably more with the phenomenon of rural exodus established than in other underdeveloped rural areas. On the island live mainly members of the Māori from the two hapu ( tribal groups ) Ngai Tuwhiwhia and Ngāti Tauaiti. Your share of the population is at 94.5 %. That live at the same time, 13.3% European-derived citizens there is that you can also assign several ethnic groups in New Zealand. However, only 61.1 % of the population speak the language of Māori.

Landscape

The island can be roughly divided into two areas, the agricultural part and the wooded part. There are about 20 square kilometers of farmland, orchards and residential areas, while on the long side of the lake about 40 km ² wooded coastal landscape stretches, which was placed under protection at the widest point of the island to Tauranga Harbour towards. In the forest, which was planted in the 1920s that are not native to New Zealand Monterey pine (Pinus radiata ) is the most common tree species.

The Department of Conservation had in 1992 launched a program to Maori Plover ( Charadrius obscurus ) (in English: New Zealand Dotterel ) are native to the island to let. This with success, because over the years have already been registered over 300 fledged chicks. The protection of birds is located in New Zealand in a critical state. Cats, rats, stoats and possums jeopardize the continued existence of the animals. Due to their relative isolation, the island offers excellent conditions to provide the Maori plover a safe habitat.

Another conservation project presented the Wetland Restoration on Matakana Iceland project represents the Māori complained long that the wetlands that provided them with fresh water, food and medicinal herbs, has been of the Pākehā, the white settlers, destroyed by modern agriculture, eutrophication and inundate are. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry ( MAF) therefore launched in 2006 a two-year project for the reclamation of wetlands on the island.

Use

The island is used for agriculture in the inhabited part. The dairy industry is there in the foreground, but also fruit cultivation and the cultivation of crops under the Māori population is recorded. The forest is partly used for forestry. In the sawmill located on the island of the wood is processed by the local Māori and transported for transportation and commerce to the Port of Tauranga. On the island there is an absolute prohibition of open flames.

Between 1993 and 1999 the property was disputed by the 40 km2 forest land as freehold land. The case Arklow Investments Ltd and Another v. ID Maclean and Others went to the New Zealand High Court and the Privy Council in London.

The long sandy beach of the island is popular with surfers, in favorable weather, the island of Mount Maunganui from reach on a surfboard or are able to take the water taxi over.

Another special feature of the island held annually Natural Breeze Music Festival can ( Natural Breeze Music Festival) apply are explicitly encouraged in the children, alcohol, drugs, any type of glass container and also video cameras are not allowed.