Sub-Antarctic Islands

Sub-Antarctic Islands — Photo by Roman Bruehwiler.

The New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands comprise some of the world’s least-modified islands and the surrounding marine area.

As a group, they hold an outstanding diversity of endemic and threatened species among its marine fauna, land birds, and invertebrates. It’s an important area for research into island dynamics and ecology, such as the study of the loss of flight in birds. It also has the most diverse community of seabirds in the world with eight species endemic to the region

Community Perspective: This site has been unreviewed so far. The included islands are: Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island group, and The Snares.

Map of Sub-Antarctic Islands

Community Rating

5 Votes 4.57 Score

Site Info

Full Name: New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands
Unesco ID: 877
Country: New Zealand
Inscribed: 1998
Type: Natural
Criteria: 9 10
Categories: Natural landscape - Insular
Link: By ID

Site History

1998 Inscribed

Site Links

Unesco Website

New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands

Official Website

Department of Conservation

Related

SubAntarctic - an educational resource

In the News

New Zealand Eradicates Invasive Mice From Antipodes Islands (2018.03.22)

Locations

The site has 5 locations

Sub-Antarctic Islands: The Snares New Zealand

Sub-Antarctic Islands: Bounty Islands New Zealand

Sub-Antarctic Islands: Antipodes Islands New Zealand

Sub-Antarctic Islands: Auckland Islands New Zealand

Sub-Antarctic Islands: Campbell Island

Connections

The site has 34 connections

Damaged

'Threatened' by Infestation of Rats: Campbell Island

Ecology

Endemic Bird Species: Definition of species/sub species in flux - c14 including species of Shag, Penguin, Parakeet, Snipe, Teal, Albatross, Rail, Oystercatcher, Fernbird

Penguins: King, Gentoo, Fjordland, Snares, Royal, Yellow eyed, Little, Erect Crested, Rockhopper

Icebergs

Notable examples of island gigantism: megaherbs

Peat: Auckland Islands "This paper contains a description of the peat soils on part of the Auckland Islands which lie in the South Pacific Ocean approximately 200 miles south of New Zealand. Peat forms a blanket over the surface of the Islands and is the parent material of most of the soils

Seals: elephant seal

Antarctic Floristic Kingdom

Tundra

Notable Trees: World's Loneliest Tree (on Campbell Island)

Albatross breeding sites: Antipodes Islands - Antipodean (race antipodensis), Shy (race steadi - alternatively considered the "White Capped" species), Black-browed, Light-mantled Auckland Islands - Gibson's, Southern royal (Enderby only), Northern royal (Enderby only), Shy (race steadi), Light-mantled Bounty Islands - Salvin's Campbell - Antipodean (race antipodensis), Southern royal, Black-browed, Campbell, Grey-headed, Light-mantled, Sooty Snares - Salvin's, Black-browed, Buller's

Strict Nature Reserve: Fully (except marine parts); "All visitors must have a permit and be accompanied by a Department of Conservation officer who enforces a rigorous minimum impact code which includes great care not to import alien species, weeds or seeds. Visits are limited to very few places in the Auckland Islands (Enderby Island, Port Ross, Carnley Harbour), to Campbell Island and by 600 visitors a year at the large sites, and 150 a year at small sites." (UNEP-WCMC)

Geography

Dependent territories: "Although considered as integral parts of New Zealand, ... the .. island groups are not part of any region or district, but are instead designated as Area Outside Territorial Authority." (wiki)

Uninhabited islands

Pacific Ocean

Southernmost: No. 3 (Campbell Island), at 52?33 S

Antipodes points: NEW ZEALAND SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS(Bounty island)=THE LOIRE VALLEY(Angers) S47 45 E179 03 = N47 23 56.004 E0 42 10.008 AND )=LE HAVRE S49 41 E178 48 = N49 29 20.6 E0 06 54.8

Formerly inhabited islands: Auckland Islands (part of NZ Sub Antarcic Islands) "Traces of Polynesian settlement, possibly dating to the 13th century, have been found by archaeologists on Enderby Island. This is the most southerly settlement by Polynesians yet known.". (wiki)

Polynesia: Traces of Polynesian settlement, possibly dating to the 13th century, have been found by archaeologists on Enderby Island. This is the most southerly settlement by Polynesians yet known. (wiki)

Volcanic plugs: Campbell Island

Submerged continent: Zealandia

Subantarctic: Antipodes Islands: 49°40′S 178°46′E; Auckland Islands: 50°42′S 166°05′E; Bounty Islands: 47°45′S 179°03′E; Campbell Island Group: 52°32′S 169°08′E; Snares Islands: 48°01′S 166°32′E

Human Activity

Slavery: The Auckland islands were briefly settled by Maoris from Chatham Island. They brought with them Moriori slaves. The Moriori had been the indigenous people of the Chathams who were enslaved by Maoris. "Sheep farming became popular and profitable and some Maori diversified into that. In 1842 one chief took nearly 30 slaves with him and his people and went to the Auckland Islands to live. The conditions were too harsh and the settlement was abandoned in 1854."

Seal Hunting: Campbell Island (1810-1840s); island was discovered in 1810 by Captain Frederick Hasselborough of the sealing brig Perseverance

Individual People

William Bligh: The Bounty Islands - discovered by Bligh in 1788 whilst on his way to Tahiti and named after his ship

Timeline

Miocene: The Auckland, Campbell and Antipodes islands are primarily of recent volcanic origin. The first two are eroded volcanic domes created 10-15 million years ago. The western sides of all three groups have been eroded significantly, creating steep cliffs, while on the eastern sides lava flows and glaciers from the Pleistocene era (about 2 million years ago) have formed U-shaped valleys, fiords and harbours. The Antipodes volcano is the youngest and least eroded.

Trivia

Furthest distance apart: 1,010km/627 miles (Bounty Islands - Auckland Islands)

Patrimonito's World Heritage Adventures

On Banknotes: Campbell Island on 5 New Zealand dollar reverse

Visiting conditions

Takes more than 5 days to visit: Combined cruise with Macquarie Island, 14 days

Biosecurity rules for tourists

One thousand visitors or fewer: “annual visitation to this site has fluctuated from approximately 250 to 750 visitors since the mid-2000s.”

WHS on Other Lists

Biodiversity hotspot: New Zealand

Centres of Plant Diversity: Au17 Subantarctic Islands - "As a group they are distinct from all other island groups, having the highest diversity of indigenous plants and birds. The “megaherbs’ are unique to the NZSAI and Macquarie Island."

Visitors

11 Community Members have visited.

Bob Parda Donald M Parrish Jr Dutchbirder JanLindgren Lillybett Malcolm Turner Pink Bunny Roman Bruehwiler SHIHE HUANG Timothy C Easton Waxwing

The Plaque

No plaque has been identified yet for this site.