About Mayor Island
Tuhua Island, or Mayor Island, as it was named by Captain James Cook, lies 22 nautical miles from Mount Maunganui in the Bay of Plenty.
Mayor Island was ‘discovered’ by Captain Cook on the date of the Lord Mayor’s Day in London, England - November 3rd, 1769. Obsidian, or Tuhua (which is the Maori name for the island) is a rich dark glasslike volcanic rock prevalent on the island and had a multitude of uses by the Maori. The sites of heavy fortifications testify to it’s value.
A marine reserve was created off the northern end of Mayor Island in 1993 and boasts some of the finest scuba diving and snorkelling in NZ.
Once a favourite haunt of Zane Grey and gets numerous mentions in Ray Douges books, The waters around Mayor Island hold some of the biggest snapper, kingfish and gamefish around. For that reason alone, boats that go there are usually full of happy anglers.
The water clarity (situated 26 kilometres off the Bay of Plenty Coast, Tuhua’s distance from human populations has meant relatively pollution-free waters) means a wide range of marine plants thrive and there is a great diversity of fish. These include open water migratory species, fish found throughout New Zealand waters and several sub-tropical species. The water clarity, numbers of fish and spectacular underwater scenery, make the area a popular diving spot.
Wildlife.
Visit Mayor Island and explore the biggest pohutakawa forest in the world. Take an easy walk to the biggest tree on the island, and be surrounded by so much bird life it’ll blow your mind. The island itself is a trampers paradise, with ancient tracks from the days when it was heavily populated by local Maori, winding there way through pristine Pohutakawa forest, over steep ridges offering awesome vistas of the volcanic crater lakes and the mainland in the distance.
The native birdlife populations have exploded. Norway rats, kiore (Polynesian rat) and feral cats have been eradicated from the island, which makes it predator free.
Mayor Island has had the conservation status of a wildlife refuge since 1953 and is administered by the Mayor Island Board of Trustees. It now has healthy populations of nectar-feeding bellbirds, tui, and wood pigeons. Other native birds include the fantail and morepork, the kaka (brown parrot), waxeye, grey warbler, kingfisher, pied tit and, soaring on the thermals, the harrier hawk. In summer the shining cuckoo is also seen and heard in good numbers. Many who have visited here over the years have enjoyed its peaceful solitude. There is also magnificent swimming and snorkelling to be had in the crystal clear waters of Sou’ East Bay.
North Island Robin had previously been recorded on the island however had become extinct due to pests such as rats and cats. The robin is the first species to be reintroduced to the island and took place in May 2003. 42 Robin were sourced from Mokoia Island in Lake Rotorua and released onto their new home on Tuhua.
A further fantastic find was the presence of four tomtits which provides the first record of this species for over 20 years and were thought to have died out.
Magda Willaims from the Tuhua Trust Board said, “we are not only delighted at how well the toutouwai are breeding but at the increased birdlife as a whole. We have had some wonderful stories relayed including a korimako being handfed watermelon and a photographer losing sight of a toutouwai before taking the picture and realising it had landed on her arm!”
