Urupukapuka Island

Template: Infobox Island / Maintenance / height missing

Urupukapuka Iceland is an island in the Bay of Islands in New Zealand. It lies about 7.3 km from Paihia. Administratively it belongs to the Far North District.

History

Urupukapuka Iceland was settled by the Ngare Raumati, one of the oldest Iwi in the region. 1839 claiming a whaling captain, having bought 150 acres of the island of Rewa, a chief of the Ngapuhi for a horse worth 150 pounds. The claim was however disputed by Rewa, who described the horse as a pledge and not only as a total purchase amount. In the late 1800s two Europeans leased pasture land on the island, the island began to clear and build a fence.

1927 was the Otehei Bay base for the fishing expeditions of the U.S. author Zane Grey, later here geared to anglers resort was built.

An archaeological trail with information panels opens up many a couple of sites from the period of colonization by the Maori. The island has numerous sandy beaches. Especially to the East Coast is a diving destination because of its reefs. The Indico and Paradise Bay are sheltered anchorages and used water sport activities.

Flora and Fauna

On the island there is a colony of cormorants. On the coast grow numerous Pohutukawa trees. Maori plovers, oystercatchers, stilts and Paradieskasarka breed on the island.