New Zealand Subantarctic Islands
| New Zealand Subantarctic Islands | |
|---|---|
| Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List | |
 Map showing New Zealand's sub-antarctic islands | |
| Type | Natural |
| Criteria | ix, x |
| Reference | 877 |
| UNESCO region | Asia-Pacific |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1998 (22nd Session) |
The New Zealand Subantarctic Islands comprise the five southernmost groups of the New Zealand outlying islands. They are collectively designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[1] Most of the islands lie near the southeast edge of the largely submerged continent centred on New Zealand called Zealandia, which was riven from Australia 60-85 million years ago and from Antarctica between 130 and 85 million years ago.
Until 1995, scientific research staff were stationed permanently at a meteorological station on Campbell Island. Since then, the islands have been uninhabited, though they are periodically visited by researchers and tourists. The islands are:
- Antipodes Islands: main island, plus Bollons Island, the Windward Islands, Orde Lees Island, Leeward Island, and South Islet, plus minor rocks
- Auckland Islands: Auckland Island, Adams Island, Disappointment Island, Enderby Island, Ewing Island and Rose Island, plus minor rocks
- Bounty Islands: two small groups of islets, the Western Group and the Eastern Group, plus minor rocks
- Campbell Island group: Campbell Island, the main island, plus several minor rocks and small islets surrounding Campbell Island, including New Zealand's southernmost point, Jacquemart Island
- The Snares: Northeast Island, High Island, Broughton Island, Alert Stack, Tahi, Rua, Toru, Wha, and Rima, plus minor rocks
They share some features with Australia's Macquarie Island to the west.
New Zealand also has territorial claims, held in abeyance under the Antarctic Treaty System, over several islands close to the Antarctic mainland, including:
- Ross Island and the rest of the Ross Archipelago
- Balleny Islands: Young Island, Buckle Island, and Sturge Island, plus several smaller islets
- Roosevelt Island
- Scott Island and Haggits Pillar
Of these, Ross Island is inhabited by the scientific staff of several research stations, notably at McMurdo Sound and Scott Base.
Protection of reserves were strengthened in 2014, becoming the largest natural sanctuary in the nation.[2]
See also
References
- ↑ New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
- ↑ "New Subantarctic marine reserves established". Television New Zealand. 2 March 2014.
External links
- Subantarctic islands, Department of Conservation
- UNESCO classification for the sub-antarctic islands
- Castaways: Wrecked on a subantarctic island, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand
| Administrative divisions of the Realm of New Zealand | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sovereign States |  New Zealand |
 Cook Islands |
 Niue | ||||||||
| Regions | 11 non-unitary regions | 5 unitary regions | Chatham Islands | Outlying islands outside any regional authority (the Kermadec Islands, Three Kings Islands, and Sub-Antarctic Islands) |
Ross Dependency |  Tokelau |
15 islands | 14 villages | |||
| Territorial authorities | 13 cities and 53 districts | ||||||||||
| Notes | Some districts lie in more than one region | These combine the regional and the territorial authority levels in one | Special territorial authority | The outlying Solander Islands form part of the Southland Region | New Zealand's Antarctic territory | Non-self-governing territory of New Zealand | States in free association with New Zealand | ||||
| |||||||||||||
Coordinates: 50°45′00″S 166°06′14″E / 50.750°S 166.104°E