Sugar Loaf Islands
Encyclopedia
The Sugar Loaf Islands are a collection of five small uninhabited islands and several sea stacks near Port Taranaki
, Taranaki, New Zealand. The largest island, Moturoa Island, covers approximately 1.4 hectares (3.5 acre). Motumahanga is the island furthest from shore, at approximately 1500 metres (1,640.4 yd) or 1.5 kilometre (0.93205910497471 mi).
The Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Protected Area (SLIMPA) was established in 1991 to protect the area from oil exploration. This strengthened the protection that had been in place since the formation of a marine park
in 1986.
The island group was named in 1770 by James Cook
.
The inner islands comprise Mataora (Round Rock), Pararaki (Seagull Rock) and Motuotamatea (Snapper Rock). Mataora connects to the mainland at low tides, as does Motuotamatea on very low spring tides. Pararaki is separated from Mataora by a 20 meter wide channel.
The outer islands comprise Motumahanga (Saddleback Island) and Moturoa.
Several small rock outcrops are included in the island group. Waikaranga (Seal Rocks), and Tokatapu are several hundred meters offshore. Close to Moturoa lie Whareumu (Lion Rock),a vegetated stack and two barren rocks, and Tokomapuna (Barrett Reef).
in the north to Herekawa Stream in the south, was protected from commercial, recreational fishing and mining. The act deemed Moturoa Island, Motumahanga, Waikaranga, and Whareumu as sanctuary areas (requiring a permit for entry), with the remaining area a conservation park.
In 2008, the 1404 ha Tapuae Marine Reserve
was established adjacent to the Sugar Loaf Island Marine Protected Area (SLIMPA).
hornblende
andesite
. Volcanic activity in Taranaki subsequently shifted to Kaitake (580,000 years ago), then migrated southeast to Pouakai
(230,000 years ago) and the current centre of activity, Taranaki (last erupted in 1755).
The Sugar Loaf Islands are the type locality
of taranakite
, a phosphate mineral that forms from the reaction of bird guano
with the aluminous rocks comprising the islands. This was the first new mineral species to be discovered in New Zealand.
Port Taranaki
Port Taranaki is located at New Plymouth, New Zealand. It is the only deep water port on the west coast of New Zealand, and is owned by the Taranaki Regional Council...
, Taranaki, New Zealand. The largest island, Moturoa Island, covers approximately 1.4 hectares (3.5 acre). Motumahanga is the island furthest from shore, at approximately 1500 metres (1,640.4 yd) or 1.5 kilometre (0.93205910497471 mi).
The Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Protected Area (SLIMPA) was established in 1991 to protect the area from oil exploration. This strengthened the protection that had been in place since the formation of a marine park
Marine park
A marine park is a park consisting of an area of sea sometimes protected for recreational use, but more often set aside to preserve a specific habitat and ensure the ecosystem is sustained for the organisms that exist there...
in 1986.
The island group was named in 1770 by James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
.
Islands
The Sugar Loaf Islands can be divided in to inner and outer island groups.The inner islands comprise Mataora (Round Rock), Pararaki (Seagull Rock) and Motuotamatea (Snapper Rock). Mataora connects to the mainland at low tides, as does Motuotamatea on very low spring tides. Pararaki is separated from Mataora by a 20 meter wide channel.
The outer islands comprise Motumahanga (Saddleback Island) and Moturoa.
Several small rock outcrops are included in the island group. Waikaranga (Seal Rocks), and Tokatapu are several hundred meters offshore. Close to Moturoa lie Whareumu (Lion Rock),a vegetated stack and two barren rocks, and Tokomapuna (Barrett Reef).
| Name | Coordinates | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Māori Maori language Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand... |
English | ||
| Inner islands | Mataora | Round Rock | 39.059683°N 174.020326°W |
| Motuotamatea | Snapper Rock | 39.061316°N 174.017193°W | |
| Pararaki | Seagull Rock | 39.059400°N 174.019425°W | |
| Outer islands | Motumahanga | Saddleback Island | 39.045403°N 174.014688°W |
| Moturoa Island | 39.049115°N 174.027461°W | ||
| Stacks Stack (geology) A stack is a geological landform consisting of a steep and often vertical column or columns of rock in the sea near a coast, isolated by erosion. Stacks are formed through processes of coastal geomorphology, which are entirely natural. Time, wind and water are the only factors involved in the... |
Tokomapuna | Barrett Reef | 39.050115°N 174.021066°W |
| Tokatapu | 39.056801°N 174.000306°W | ||
| Waikaranga | Seal Rocks | 39.056367°N 174.003149°W | |
| Whareumu | Lion Rock | 39.050785°N 174.026763°W |
Marine protected area
In 1986, an area encompassing the Sugar Loaf Islands was protected as a marine park. Concern over oil exploration led to strengthening of the protection, through the enacting of the Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Park Act in 1991. An area of 752.5 hectares (1,859.5 acre), including 5.3 hectares (13.1 acre) of land, encompassing the islands and surrounding seabed and ocean spanning from Port TaranakiPort Taranaki
Port Taranaki is located at New Plymouth, New Zealand. It is the only deep water port on the west coast of New Zealand, and is owned by the Taranaki Regional Council...
in the north to Herekawa Stream in the south, was protected from commercial, recreational fishing and mining. The act deemed Moturoa Island, Motumahanga, Waikaranga, and Whareumu as sanctuary areas (requiring a permit for entry), with the remaining area a conservation park.
In 2008, the 1404 ha Tapuae Marine Reserve
Tapuae Marine Reserve
Tapuae Marine Reserve is a marine reserve created in 2008 off the Taranaki coast of New Zealand.It protects an area of 1404 ha and adjoins the Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Protected Area.-External links:* - Tapuae Marine Reserve...
was established adjacent to the Sugar Loaf Island Marine Protected Area (SLIMPA).
Geology
The Sugar Loaf Islands, along with onshore pinnacles such as Paritutu (153 m (502 ft)), represent the oldest volcanic activity on the Taranaki peninsula. Dating between 1.7 and 1.74 million years of age, the islands are believed to be the remains of a ring fracture or feeders to eroded volcanic vents, and are composed of a porphyriticPorphyritic
Porphyritic is an adjective used in geology, specifically for igneous rocks, for a rock that has a distinct difference in the size of the crystals, with at least one group of crystals obviously larger than another group...
hornblende
Hornblende
Hornblende is a complex inosilicate series of minerals .It is not a recognized mineral in its own right, but the name is used as a general or field term, to refer to a dark amphibole....
andesite
Andesite
Andesite is an extrusive igneous, volcanic rock, of intermediate composition, with aphanitic to porphyritic texture. In a general sense, it is the intermediate type between basalt and dacite. The mineral assemblage is typically dominated by plagioclase plus pyroxene and/or hornblende. Magnetite,...
. Volcanic activity in Taranaki subsequently shifted to Kaitake (580,000 years ago), then migrated southeast to Pouakai
Pouakai
Pouakai may refer to:* an alternative spelling of Poukai, a bird monster in Polynesian mythology who ate humans* Haast's Eagle, an extinct bird of New Zealand* an eroded, extinct volcano on the northern flank of Mount Taranaki...
(230,000 years ago) and the current centre of activity, Taranaki (last erupted in 1755).
The Sugar Loaf Islands are the type locality
Type locality (geology)
Type locality , also called type area or type locale, is the where a particular rock type, stratigraphic unit, fossil or mineral species is first identified....
of taranakite
Taranakite
Taranakite is a hydrated alkali iron-aluminium phosphate mineral with chemical formula 3526·18H2O. It forms from the reaction of clay minerals or aluminous rocks with solutions enriched in phosphate derived from bat or bird guano or, less commonly, from bones or other organic matter...
, a phosphate mineral that forms from the reaction of bird guano
Guano
Guano is the excrement of seabirds, cave dwelling bats, and seals. Guano manure is an effective fertilizer due to its high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen and also its lack of odor. It was an important source of nitrates for gunpowder...
with the aluminous rocks comprising the islands. This was the first new mineral species to be discovered in New Zealand.