Motunau / Plate Island
Motunau / Plate Island is a small island in the Bay of Plenty, roughly 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) off New Zealand's North Island at Okurei Point and a similar distance east-south-east from the much larger Mōtītī Island. The island is split into northern and southern portions by a small channel as narrow as 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) across, with several small sea stacks surrounding the two main parts of the island. Like many of the other islands in the Bay of Plenty, Motunau is volcanic in origin and lacks any permanent fresh water source, and as a result has not seen permanent settlement by humans.
Motunau / Plate Island Location of Motunau / Plate Island in New Zealand | |
| Etymology | From Māori: Motu (island) and nau (Lepidium oleraceum). Plate Island has unclear origins. |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Bay of Plenty |
| Coordinates | 37.662°S 176.560°E |
| Area | 0.038 km2 (0.015 sq mi) |
| Length | 390 m (1280 ft) |
| Width | 200 m (700 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Region | Bay of Plenty |
The lack of human interaction with the island or introduced predators has led to Motunau becoming home to a range of native animal species, including a population of tuatara, as well as a breeding colony of kekeno (New Zealand fur seals) and several seabirds. As a result of this, the island was legally protected as a wildlife sanctuary in 1969, and in 2021 the surrounding ocean was designated a Marine Protection Area.