# Slipper Island

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Island of New Zealand

Slipper Island Whakahau (Māori) LANDSAT image of Slipper Island and surroundings Interactive map of Slipper Island Geography Location Waikato region Coordinates 37°03′S 175°56′E / 37.050°S 175.933°E / -37.050; 175.933 Area 2.68 km2 (1.03 sq mi) Length 2.8 km (1.74 mi) Width 1.7 km (1.06 mi) Highest elevation 103 m (338 ft) Administration New Zealand Demographics Population (?)

Slipper (left), Penguin and Rabbit Islands from Mount Paku, [Tairua](/source/Tairua)

**Slipper Island** ([Māori](/source/M%C4%81ori_language): *Whakahau*) is located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the east of the [Coromandel Peninsula](/source/Coromandel_Peninsula) in [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand)'s [North Island](/source/North_Island) and 8 kilometres (5 mi) southeast of the town of [Pauanui](/source/Pauanui).

## History

Approximately 18,000 years ago during the [Last Glacial Maximum](/source/Last_Glacial_Maximum) when sea levels were over 100 metres lower than present day levels, Slipper Island was connected to the Coromandel by a vast coastal plain. Sea levels began to rise 7,000 years ago, after which the island was separated from the rest of New Zealand.[1] When sea levels were lower, the [Tairua River](/source/Tairua_River) flowed between modern Slipper Island and [Shoe Island / Motuhoa](/source/Shoe_Island_%2F_Motuhoa), travelling eastwards towards the Pacific Ocean.[1]

There is evidence that the island was the site of early activity of New Zealand's first [Māori](/source/M%C4%81ori_people) settlers on their arrival around 1300AD, principally by the discovery of a tropical pearl shell lure in 2001. There are also eight [Pā](/source/P%C4%81) sites and other evidence of occupation such as middens. Numerous [moa](/source/Moa) bone blanks used by early East Polynesian settlers for making fish hooks have also been found. The Island is considered wahi [tapu](/source/Tapu_(Polynesian_culture)), or sacred to [iwi](/source/Iwi), the [Ngāti Maru Runanga](/source/Ng%C4%81ti_Maru_(Hauraki)) and [Ngāti Hei](/source/Ng%C4%81ti_Hei). Tuokiokio was the last Māori chief, or rangatira, of Whakahau.[2]

The island was used as a farm from the mid to late 19th century. More recent farm owners included[3] the Normans, later of [Opoutere](/source/Opoutere), and the Needhams who purchased the island around 1970. About 217ha (95 per cent) of the island was later set up as a resort by the Needham family, Abe and Nora and their 14 children. This was sold to Auckland-based property developer Wendy Weimei Wu in 2015.[4] The guests and tourists used the then only habitation on the island, the resort of six chalets and the family homestead.[5][6]

The balance of the island, seven hectares around South Bay, has been subdivided. The television programme *[Grand Designs New Zealand](/source/Grand_Designs_New_Zealand)* featured the building of a new house on this land in October 2017.[7]

Several smaller islets (including Penguin Island and Rabbit Island) are found off its southern tip, and the 40-hectare [Shoe Island / Motuhoa](/source/Shoe_Island_%2F_Motuhoa) lies to the northwest.

[37°03′S 175°56′E / 37.050°S 175.933°E / -37.050; 175.933](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Slipper_Island&params=37_03_S_175_56_E_region:NZ_type:isle)

## See also

- [List of islands of New Zealand](/source/List_of_islands_of_New_Zealand)

- [New Zealand outlying islands](/source/New_Zealand_outlying_islands)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Niwa_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Niwa_1-1) ["Estuary origins"](https://niwa.co.nz/te-kuwaha/tools-and-resources/ng%C4%81-waihotanga-iho-the-estuary-monitoring-toolkit-for-iwi/estuary-origins). [National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research](/source/National_Institute_of_Water_and_Atmospheric_Research). Retrieved 3 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Cultural treasure in $7 million island sale"](http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11441956). *New Zealand Herald*. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Ball, Anne Stuart. ["Part of the Past: New Zealand History Blog - Islands of Coromandel's Eastern Seaboard"](http://partofpastnzhistory.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/islands-of-coromandels-eastern-seaboard.html?m=1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Grunwell, Rachel (12 April 2015). ["Family Fractured by Sale of Slipper Island"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180331040745/https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/67699820/family%2Dfractured%2Dby%2Dsale%2Dof%2Dslipper%2Disland). Archived from [the original](https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/67699820/family-fractured-by-sale-of-slipper-island) on 31 March 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Private Islands Inc. Private Islands Online, ["Slipper Island, New Zealand, Oceania"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100218113858/http://www.privateislandsonline.com/slipperrentocnz.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.privateislandsonline.com/slipperrentocnz.htm) on 18 February 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2018-01-05_stuff_6-0)** [For rent: Slipper Island, New Zealand’s private island paradise](https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/100343207/for-rent-nzs-private-island-paradise), Brook Sabin, stuff.co.nz, 2018-01-05

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Grand Designs star on $1.5m island sanctuary: 'I wouldn't recommend it'"](http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11929087). *New Zealand Herald*. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2018.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.slipper.co.nz)

- [Slipper Island Blog](http://www.slipperisland.com/blog/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Slipper Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slipper_Island) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slipper_Island?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.