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Archipelago

    Pacific OceanNew Zealand

    35°28′S 174°44′E

    Poor Knights Islands

    Tawhitirahi

    The Poor Knights Islands (Māori: Tawhiti Rahi) are a group of islands off the east coast of the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. They lie 50 kilometres (31 mi) to the northeast of Whangārei, and 22 kilometres (14 mi) offshore halfway between Bream Head and Cape Brett.

    Archway Island south of Aorangi Island from northeast; the entrance to the tall rock arch (obscured) is discernible in the left part of the island
    Archway Island south of Aorangi Island from northeast; the entrance to the tall rock arch (obscured) is discernible in the left part of the island

    Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia / Public domain

    Chart

    21 landforms

    Overview

    The Poor Knights Islands (Māori: Tawhiti Rahi) are a group of islands off the east coast of the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. They lie 50 kilometres (31 mi) to the northeast of Whangārei, and 22 kilometres (14 mi) offshore halfway between Bream Head and Cape Brett. Uninhabited since the 1820s, they are a nature reserve and popular underwater diving spot, with boat tours typically departing from Tutukaka. The Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve surrounds the island. Historian John Beaglehole (1955) comments that the origin of the islands' name is not clear, and speculates that the name could be related to the Poor Knights of Windsor, or that the islands were named for their resemblance to Poor Knight's Pudding, a bread-based dish topped with egg and fried, popular at the time of discovery by Europeans.

    From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Census, cataloged

    • Major islands2
    • Minor islands0
    • Islets7
    • Rocks & skerries12

    Major islands

    2

    Islets

    7
    • Archway Island54 m · 0.06 km²
    • Aorangaia Island76 m · 0.06 km²
    • Motu Kapiti Island20 m · 0.01 km²
    • Unnamed island6 m · 0.01 km²
    • Unnamed island6 m · 0.7 ha
    • Unnamed island0.2 ha
    • Unnamed island2 m · 0.1 ha

    Rocks & skerries

    12
    • Kaka Rock0.2 ha
    • Ngoio Rock<0.1 ha
    • Unnamed island<0.1 ha
    • Unnamed island<0.1 ha
    • Bird Rock<0.1 ha
    • Unnamed island<0.1 ha
    • Unnamed island<0.1 ha
    • Unnamed island<0.1 ha
    • Unnamed island<0.1 ha
    • Unnamed island<0.1 ha
    • Unnamed island<0.1 ha
    • Unnamed island<0.1 ha

    Figures

    Comparative heights

    Sea level100 m200 m300 m216 mAorangi191 mTawhiti Rahi76 mAorangaia54 mArchway20 mMotu Kapiti
    High points by island, metres above sea level.

    Islands by area

    0.000010.00010.0010.010.1110Tawhiti Rahi: 1.6 km²Tawhiti RahiAorangi: 1 km²AorangiArchway: 0.06 km²ArchwayAorangaia: 0.06 km²AorangaiaMotu Kapiti: 0.01 km²Motu KapitiUnnamed island: 0.01 km²Unnamed islandUnnamed island: 0.7 haUnnamed islandUnnamed island: 0.2 haUnnamed islandKaka Rock: 0.2 haKaka RockUnnamed island: 0.1 haUnnamed islandNgoio Rock: <0.1 haNgoio RockUnnamed island: <0.1 haUnnamed islandUnnamed island: <0.1 haUnnamed islandBird Rock: <0.1 haBird RockUnnamed island: <0.1 haUnnamed islandUnnamed island: <0.1 haUnnamed islandUnnamed island: <0.1 haUnnamed islandUnnamed island: <0.1 haUnnamed islandUnnamed island: <0.1 haUnnamed islandUnnamed island: <0.1 haUnnamed islandUnnamed island: <0.1 haUnnamed island
    km², log scale
    Tawhiti Rahi Island1.6 km²
    Aorangi Island1 km²
    Archway Island0.06 km²
    Aorangaia Island0.06 km²
    Motu Kapiti Island0.01 km²
    Unnamed island0.01 km²
    Unnamed island0.7 ha
    Unnamed island0.2 ha
    Kaka Rock0.2 ha
    Unnamed island0.1 ha
    Ngoio Rock<0.1 ha
    Unnamed island<0.1 ha
    Unnamed island<0.1 ha
    Bird Rock<0.1 ha
    Unnamed island<0.1 ha
    Unnamed island<0.1 ha
    Unnamed island<0.1 ha
    Unnamed island<0.1 ha
    Unnamed island<0.1 ha
    Unnamed island<0.1 ha
    Unnamed island<0.1 ha

    Sources

    Facts

    • Geometry, areas and high points: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Copernicus GLO-30, via Talus.
    • Wikidata
    • Talus
    • Wikipedia

    Photographs