# Tata Islands

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Pair of islands off the north coast of the South Island, New Zealand

Tata Islands Tata Islands seen from Tata Beach Interactive map of Tata Islands Geography Location Golden Bay, New Zealand Coordinates 40°48′07″S 172°54′40″E / 40.802°S 172.911°E / -40.802; 172.911 Adjacent to Golden Bay Total islands 2 Major islands Motu Island Ngawhiti Island Area 4.6 ha (11 acres) Highest elevation 32 m (105 ft) Administration New Zealand District Tasman

**Tata Islands** are a pair of small uninhabited islands off the north coast of New Zealand's [South Island](/source/South_Island). They are located some 20 kilometres (12 mi) to the northwest of [Tākaka](/source/T%C4%81kaka) in the southeast of [Golden Bay](/source/Golden_Bay_%2F_Mohua) close to [Abel Tasman Point](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abel_Tasman_Point&action=edit&redlink=1), and are contained within [Abel Tasman National Park](/source/Abel_Tasman_National_Park).[1] The small settlement of [Tata Beach](/source/Tata_Beach) lies on the South Island mainland one kilometre to the south of the islands.

## Geography

The islands are small, with the larger of the two, Motu Island (North Tata) being roughly 300 metres in length and 100 metres in width. It is roughly [tabular](/source/Table_(landform)) in form, with much of its area being between 20 and 30 metres in height, rising to some 32 metres (105 ft) at its highest point. The southern island, Ngawhiti Island (South Tata), is roughly 160 by 120 metres in size, and, while less regular than its northern neighbour, rises to a similar altitude. Several small islets and [stacks](/source/Sea_stack) lie off the coast of Ngawhiti Island.[2] The islands' most distinctive geographic feature is a large [limestone](/source/Limestone) stack at the southern end of Ngawhiti Island.[3]

## Flora and fauna

The waters around the islands are a significant fish nursery, and are also popular with kayakers. The area was proposed as a [marine reserve](/source/Marine_reserve) in the 1990s, though this status was not granted.[3] The islands themselves are the site of one of New Zealand's largest populations of [spotted shag](/source/Spotted_shag).[3]

## History

There is some evidence of pre-European Māori settlement on Ngawhiti Island, and its native flora may have been burnt back to allow for cultivation. Vegetation on Motu island is more diverse, suggesting that there was no similar burn-off there.[3]

The islands have historically provided deep water shelter for large ships visiting the Golden Bay area, the only site in the bay capable of providing such shelter. From about 1904,[4] parts of Ngawhiti Island were mined for limestone, but in the first decade of the 20th century the government acquired the islands under the [Public Works Act](/source/Public_Works_Act).[3]

For many years from the 1930s on, Ngawhiti Island was inhabited by a sole resident, Norwegian Peter Peterson, who was known locally as "The Hermit of South Tata Island".[4] The island and its northern neighbour are now uninhabited.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-EB_1-0)** Hoiberg, Dale H., ed. (2010). ["Abel Tasman National Park"](https://archive.org/details/newencyclopaedia2009ency/page/25). *Encyclopædia Britannica*. Vol. I: A-ak Bayes (15th ed.). Chicago, IL: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. pp. [25](https://archive.org/details/newencyclopaedia2009ency/page/25). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-59339-837-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-59339-837-8).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [New Zealand Topomap](https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz44740/Tata-Islands/)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-forgot_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-forgot_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-forgot_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-forgot_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-forgot_3-4) Hindmarsh, G., "[Forgotten islands of the Abel Tasman](https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/100827557/forgotten-islands-of-the-abel-tasman)", *stuff.co.nz*, 27 January 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Hermit_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Hermit_4-1) Hindmarsh, G., "[Hermit of South Tata Island's proud and lonely life](https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/111416749/hermit-of-south-tata-islands-proud-and-lonely-life)", *The Nelson Mail*, 23 March 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.

v t e Abel Tasman National Park Bays and beaches Awaroa Inlet Golden Bay / Mohua Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere Tinline Bay Rākauroa / Torrent Bay Tōtaranui Wainui Bay Caves Harwoods Hole Islands Armchair Island Ballon Rock Fisherman Island Motuareronui / Adele Island Tata Islands Tonga Island Rivers Awapoto River Awaroa River Falls River Mārahau River Simonet Creek Torrent River Wainui River Wainui Falls Structures Abel Tasman Monument Walking tracks Abel Tasman Coast Track Abel Tasman Inland Track Related reserves Tonga Island Marine Reserve

v t e Tasman District, New Zealand Seat: Richmond Populated places Golden Bay / Mohua Aorere Bainham Clifton Collingwood East Tākaka Ferntown Ligar Bay Motupipi Onekaka Pākawau Parapara Patons Rock Pōhara Port Pūponga Pūponga Rockville Seaford Tākaka Tarakohe Tata Beach Upper Tākaka Waikato Waitapu Motueka Brooklyn Kaiteriteri Lower Moutere Mārahau Motueka Riwaka Moutere-Waimea Brightwater Bronte Dovedale Mahana Māpua Ngātīmoti Ruby Bay Tasman Upper Moutere Wakefield Woodstock Richmond Aniseed Valley Appleby Hope Richmond Lakes-Murchison Murchison Rotoroa Saint Arnaud Tapawera Tophouse Geographic features Buller River Dun Mountain–Maitai terrane Hope Saddle Lee River Mārahau River Maungakura / Red Hill Newton River Ngārua Caves Roding River Sams Creek Tākaka River Waimea Plains Waimea River Golden Bay / Mohua Appos Creek Archway Islands Cape Farewell Cobb Reservoir Druggans Dam Dry River Farewell Spit Harwoods Hole Lake Killarney Lightband Gully North-west Nelson Forest Park Rawhiti Cave Slateford Tākaka Hill Tata Islands Te Waikoropupū Springs Wainui Bay Whanganui Inlet Wharariki Beach Abel Tasman National Park Armchair Island Awapoto River Awaroa River Ballon Rock Falls River Fisherman Island Motuareronui / Adele Island Simonet Creek Torrent Bay Tata Islands Tinline Bay Tonga Island Torrent River Tōtaranui Wainui River Falls Tasman Bay Bell Island Best Island Moturoa / Rabbit Island Tokangawhā / Split Apple Rock Waimea Inlet Kahurangi National Park Brown River Bulmer Cavern Ellis Basin cave system Kahurangi Point Lake Matiri Mount Arthur Mount Burnett Mount Owen Nettlebed Cave Wharepapa / Arthur Range Nelson Lakes National Park Braeburn Range Lake Rotoiti Lake Rotoroa Maniniaro / Angelus Peak Mount Franklin Pourangahau / Mount Robert Rotomairewhenua / Blue Lake Rotopōhueroa / Lake Constance Sabine Valley Saint Arnaud Range Spenser Mountains Facilities and attractions Abel Tasman National Park Coast Track Inland Track Monument Appleby railway station Brightwater railway station Cobb Power Station Ferntown Bridge Gowanbridge railway station Heaphy Track Hope railway station Karamea Aerodrome Kawatiri railway station Langford Store Memorial Park Milnthorpe Model Motueka Aerodrome Moutere Inn Mussel Inn Nelson Lakes National Park Onekaka Ironworks Onekaka Power Station Onekaka Wharf and tramline Proposals for a road through North-west Nelson Pupu Hydro Power Scheme Richmond railway station RNZAF Dip Flat Rutherford memorial Stafford Place St Michael's Church Stoke railway station Tākaka Aerodrome Tākaka Pioneers' Memorial Takaka Tramway Great Taste Trail Tonga Island Marine Reserve Tophouse Tour de Vineyards Wai-iti Dark Sky Park Wangapeka Track Westhaven (Te Tai Tapu) Marine Reserve Wharariki Ecosanctuary Administration Historic Nelson Province (1853–1876) Collingwood County (1877–1956) Waimea County (1877–1989) Richmond Borough (1891–1989 · mayor) Motueka Borough (1900–1989) Takaka County (1904–1956) Murchison County (1909–1965) Golden Bay County (1956–1989) Nelson-Marlborough Regional Council (1989–1992) Current Council Mayor Organisations Golden Bay Air Golden Bay-Motueka Rugby Union New Zealand Energy Richmond Athletic FC Talley's Group Schools Collingwood Area School Golden Bay High School Motueka High School Waimea College Waimea Intermediate

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