{{Short description|Fiord in the South Island of New Zealand}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=December 2019}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Rakituma / Preservation Inlet | native_name = {{native name|mi|Rakituma}} | other_name = | image = Long Sound Fiordland New Zealand Aotearoa.jpg | caption = Te Awaroa / Long Sound, in the upper reaches of Rakituma / Preservation Inlet | alt = View of Te Awaroa Long Sound near the top of Rakituma Preservation Inlet | pushpin_map = New Zealand Fiordland#New Zealand | pushpin_map_alt = Location of Rakituma | pushpin_map_caption = Location in New Zealand | location = [[Tasman Sea]] | coords = {{coord|-46.089|166.642|region:NZ_type:waterbody_source:GNS-enwiki|display=inline, title}} | inflow = [[Long Burn]], [[Gray River]], Richard Burn, Margaret Stream, Jeanie Burn, Blacklock Stream, Dawson Burn | islands = Only Islands, [[Cording Islands]], Weka or Long Island, Steep-to Island, [[Coal Island, New Zealand|Coal Island]] | oceans = | catchment = {{convert|562|km2}}<ref name="NZOI">{{cite book |last1=Stanton |first1=B. R. |last2=Pickard |first2=G. L. |title=Physical Oceanography of the New Zealand Fiords |date=1981 |publisher=New Zealand Oceanographic Institute |location=Wellington |page=14 |url=http://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/Memoir%20088_Physical%20Oceanography%20of%20the%20New%20Zealand%20Fiords.pdf |access-date=1 August 2020}}</ref> | countries = New Zealand | length = {{convert|36.5|km}}<ref name="NZOI"/> | width = {{convert|1.8|km}}<ref name="NZOI"/> | area = {{convert|93|km2}}<ref name="NZOI"/> | depth = {{convert|371|km2}}<ref name="NZOI"/> | sections = [[Te Awaroa / Long Sound]], Useless Bay, Revolver Bay, Isthmus Sound, Otago Retreat }} '''Rakituma / Preservation Inlet''' is the southernmost [[fiord]] in [[Fiordland National Park]] and lies on the southwest corner of the [[South Island]] of New Zealand. With an area of {{convert|93|km2}}, it is the fourth largest fiord in New Zealand, after [[Tamatea / Dusky Sound]], [[Doubtful Sound / Patea]], and the neighbouring [[Taiari / Chalky Inlet]] to the north. Rakituma was briefly the site of an attempted fishing and gold mining settlement at Cromarty during the 19th century, however this was quickly abandoned once the level of gold declined in relation to more promising fields elsewhere.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Warne |first1=Kennedy |title=Walking the Line: The Telephone at the End of the World |journal=New Zealand Geographic |date=July–August 2009 |issue=98 |url=https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/walking-the-line/ |access-date=25 December 2021}}</ref>
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==Geography== As with [[Taiari / Chalky Inlet]] immediately to the north, Rakituma / Preservation Inlet has reasonably complex geography, resembling an inlet in its outer reaches more than the well-defined fiords to the north. According to [[Māori mythology|Māori legend]], these fiords were carved by the demigod Tū-te-raki-whānoa using his [[adze]], Te Hamo. Starting from the south with Rakituma, his initial efforts were rough and resulted in rough coastlines with many islands, before perfecting his technique by the time he created [[Piopiotahi]] at the north.<ref>{{cite web |title=Milford Sound New Zealand Fiordland Milford Sound Cruises Kayaking Activities, visitor information, transport, tramping, attractions, accommodation, dining |url=http://atoz-nz.com/page/intro/milford |website=atoz-nz.com |access-date=25 December 2021}}</ref>
The main body of Rakituma is connected to the [[Tasman Sea]] by two passages, separated by [[Coal Island, New Zealand|Coal Island]]. The main passage of the fiord sits to the north of the island and is {{convert|1.67|km}} wide at its narrowest point. Otago Retreat separates Coal Island from the mainland to the south, which has an average width of less than a kilometre and just {{convert|375|m}} at its narrowest point. Numerous smaller islands are located in the middle portion of the fiord, between Coal Island and the entrance to Te Awaroa / Long Sound. The southern half of this section is dominated by two large islands, Weka / Long Island and Steep-to Island, while the northern half has many more smaller islands as part of the Cording Islands group.
Towards the northeast of the lower portion of the fiord, it again splits in two. The upper half forms a roughly 5-kilometre-long arm known as Isthmus Sound, while the lower half forms a narrow channel to the inner fiord. After two further arms {{endash}} Useless Bay to the north, and Revolver Bay to the south {{endash}} the fiord changes from its predominant northeasterly direction to the northwest for {{convert|5.5|km}}. After this, the fiord turns back to its original orientation for the remainder of its length. This inner portion of the fiord, running for approximately {{convert|16.5|km}}, is known as Te Awaroa / Long Sound. Both the European and Māori portions of this name refer to the fiord's length, with ''Awaroa'' translating as "long river".<ref>{{cite web |title=Te Awaroa |url=https://www.kahurumanu.co.nz/atlas?find=%7B201b142b-4052-e311-8212-005056970030%7D |website=Kā Huru Manu |publisher=Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu |access-date=25 December 2021}}</ref> At its head, this fiord is in turn fed by the outlet of Long Burn.<ref name=WisesPreservation>''Wises New Zealand Guide'', 7th edition, 1979. pp. 355-56</ref> [[Gray River]] flows nearby the inlet. A large part of the interior of Preservation Inlet is protected by the [[Fiordland's marine reserves|Te Tapuwae o Hua (Long Sound) Marine Reserve]].
==History== Known to early [[seal hunting|sealers]] and [[whaler]]s, it was named Port Preservation by [[Captain (naval)|Captain]] [[Eber Bunker]] in 1809. The first shore-based whaling station in New Zealand was established here in 1828 or 1829 by Captain Peter Williams, exploiting [[southern right whale]]s in the area.<ref name=NZEWhaling>{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/HarvestingTheSea/Whaling/2/en |title=2. – Whaling – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand |publisher=Teara.govt.nz |date=2012-07-13 |access-date=2015-06-20}}</ref><ref name=WisesPreservation/><ref>{{Cite Q|Q58677530}}</ref>
In the 1890s gold deposits were found. Two settlements, known as Cromarty and Te Oneroa, were established in Kisbee Bay for miners. However by 1904 only a few miners were left, and few traces of the settlements remain though in places large pieces of rusting equipment can be seen in the regenerating bush at the sites of the historic Alpha and Golden Mines.<ref name=WisesPreservation/><ref>[http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/gold-and-gold-mining/page-6 ''Preservation Inlet'' from Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand]</ref><ref name=WisesCromarty>''Wises New Zealand Guide'', 7th edition, 1979. p. 77</ref>
In October 2019, the name of the inlet was officially altered to Rakituma / Preservation Inlet.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.linz.govt.nz/regulatory/place-names/recent-place-name-notices-and-place-names-interest/nzgb-notices-october-2019 |title=NZGB notices – October 2019 |date=17 October 2019 |publisher=Land Information New Zealand |access-date=15 December 2019}}</ref>
==Ecology==
===Fauna=== After a massive exploitation for over years, [[southern right whale]]s finally started returning into the inlet along with [[Chalky Island (New Zealand)|Chalky Inlet]].<ref>[http://www.realjourneys.co.nz/content/library/Wilderness_Magazine__Preservation_Inlet_Discovery_Cruise.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523075121/http://www.realjourneys.co.nz/content/library/Wilderness_Magazine__Preservation_Inlet_Discovery_Cruise.pdf|date=May 23, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0905/S00270.htm |title=Look out for endangered southern right whales | Scoop News |publisher=Scoop.co.nz |date=2009-05-20 |access-date=2015-06-20}}</ref><ref>[http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/conservation/marine-and-coastal/fiordlandcoastalnewsletter-oct07.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016165721/http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/conservation/marine-and-coastal/fiordlandcoastalnewsletter-oct07.pdf|date=October 16, 2008}}</ref> There are anecdotal sightings of [[Hector's dolphin]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fish.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/2C2AB64F-ABA8-4F6B-954F-BFE76C102C38/0/hectors_discussion_document_april_07.pdf |format=PDF |title=Hector's Dolphin Threat Management Discussion Document |publisher=Fish.govt.nz |access-date=2015-06-20}}</ref> while [[bottlenose dolphin]]s are more regularly observed. [[Southern elephant seal]]s are occasionally observed resting on shore around the inlet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/documents/conservation/marine-and-coastal/fiordlandcoastalnewsletter-april11.pdf|format=PDF|title=Fiordland Coastal Newsletter April 2011, Department of Conservation|publisher=Doc.govt.nz|access-date=2015-06-20}}</ref>
==Access== No roads reach the coast at this point. However, a [[Tramping in New Zealand|tramping]] track is available from [[Tuatapere]] to Big River, east of Preservation Inlet. After Big River there is no continuous track or marked route to the inlet. There is also access to the sound by sea or air.
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Fiordland}}
==External links== * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKKyWJ5QZHs Otago Geology video of the site]
[[Category:Fiords of New Zealand]] [[Category:Landforms of Fiordland]] [[Category:Whaling stations in New Zealand]] [[Category:Fiordland National Park]]