Story: Stewart Island/Rakiura

Entrance to Rakiura National Park

Entrance to Rakiura National Park

Most of Stewart Island comes within the compass of Rakiura National Park. It was established in 2002, making it New Zealand’s most recent national park (as at 2012). This chain link sculpture at its entrance symbolises the anchor chain of the demigod Māui who, by tradition, fished up Te Wai Pounamu (the South Island) and anchored it with Rakiura (Stewart Island). There is a matching chain link sculpture on the mainland at Bluff.

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Department of Conservation
Reference: 10055679
Photograph by Greg Lind

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How to cite this page:

Carl Walrond, 'Stewart Island/Rakiura - New Zealand’s third main island', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/37619/entrance-to-rakiura-national-park (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Carl Walrond, updated 1 May 2015