Stewart Island
Rakiura (Māori) | |
|---|---|
| Geography | |
| Location | Foveaux Strait |
| Coordinates | 47°00′S 167°50′E / 47.00°S 167.84°E |
| Archipelago | New Zealand archipelago |
| Area | 1,747.72 km2 (674.80 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 980 m (3220 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Anglem / Hananui |
| Administration | |
| Electorates | Invercargill (general) Te Tai Tonga (Māori) |
| MPs | Penny Simmonds (New Zealand National Party) Tākuta Ferris (Independent politician) |
Local Government | |
| Regional Council | Environment Southland |
| Largest settlement | Oban |
| Territorial authority | Southland District |
| Community Board | Stewart Island/Rakiura Community Board |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 500 (June 2025) |
| Pop. density | 0.29/km2 (0.75/sq mi) |
Stewart Island (Māori: Rakiura, lit. 'glowing skies', officially Stewart Island / Rakiura, formerly New Leinster) is the third-largest and southernmost inhabited island of New Zealand, lying 30 kilometres (16 nautical miles) south of the South Island, separated by Foveaux Strait.
It is a roughly triangular island with a land area of 1,746 km2 (674 sq mi). Its 164-kilometre (102 mi) coastline is indented by Paterson Inlet (east), Port Pegasus (south), and Mason Bay (west). The island is generally hilly (rising to 980 metres or 3,220 feet at Mount Anglem) and densely forested. Almost all the island is owned by the New Zealand government, and over 80 percent of the island forms Rakiura National Park.
Stewart Island's economy depends on fishing and summer tourism. Its permanent population was recorded at 486 people in the 2023 census. Most residents live in the settlement of Oban on the eastern side of the island. Ferries connect Oban to Bluff in the South Island. Stewart Island is part of the Southland District for local government purposes.