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Story: Protected areas

Rakiura National Park entrance

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Rakiura National Park entrance

Rakiura, created in 2002, is New Zealand’s most recent national park. These chain links at its entrance symbolise the anchor chain of the demigod Māui. In Māori tradition, Māui fished up the North Island. The South Island was his canoe, and he anchored it to Rakiura (Stewart Island).

Using this item

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10055679

by Greg Lind

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How to cite this page

Les Molloy, Protected areas – National parks, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/13848/rakiura-national-park-entrance (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Les Molloy, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 September 2015.