The New Zealand Subantarctic Islands include the five southernmost groups of the New Zealand outlying islands. These islands are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Most of the islands are located near the southeast edge of Zealandia, a mostly underwater landmass near New Zealand. Zealandia separated from Australia 60–85 million years ago and from Antarctica 85–130 million years ago. These islands have some similarities to Macquarie Island in Australia.
History
These islands were not inhabited when Europeans first arrived. However, there is evidence that Māori and/or Polynesian people visited some of the island groups before European contact. Some islands were still known to Māori when Europeans arrived.
- Antipodes Islands (Moutere Mahue) – A pottery shard was found here in 1886, but some people question whether it is real.
- Auckland Islands (Motu Maha/Maungahuka) – Signs of Polynesian people living there, possibly as early as the 13th century, were found on Enderby Island by scientists. This is the southernmost Polynesian settlement discovered so far.
- Snares Islands (Tini Heke) – Māori knew about these islands and called one of the larger islands Te Taniwha ("The sea-monster"). The islands can be seen from Stewart Island on clear days.
Europeans explored the area in the 19th century, often using the islands’ natural resources for sealing and whaling. Some ships sank in the region, and crews had to survive on the land. A settlement called Hardwicke on Auckland Island was one of the few serious attempts by Europeans to live on the islands, but it was later abandoned.
Until 1995, scientists lived permanently at a weather station on Campbell Island. After that, the islands have been empty, though researchers and tourists visit them sometimes. In 2014, protection laws were strengthened to make the area the largest natural sanctuary in the country.
Islands
New Zealand has territorial claims that are set aside under the Antarctic Treaty System over several islands near the Antarctic mainland, including:
- Ross Island and other islands in the Ross Archipelago
- Balleny Islands: Young Island, Buckle Island, Sturge Island, and several smaller islands
- Roosevelt Island
- Scott Island and Haggits Pillar
Of these, Ross Island is home to scientific staff working at several research stations, especially at McMurdo Sound and Scott Base.
Ecology
The Antipodes, Auckland, Bounty, and Campbell Islands are all called the Antipodean Islands in the World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions. The Snares Islands, also known as Tini Heke, are grouped with the South Island in New Zealand South according to the same system.