Horuhoru Rock (Gannet Rock) is an uninhabited rocky islet lying in the Hauraki Gulf, about 1.5 km north of the north-eastern end of Waiheke Island, New Zealand. It has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because it is a nesting site for about 2500 pairs of Australasian gannets.[1]
Māori: Horuhoru | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Gannet Rock seen in 1935 | |
 | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Hauraki Gulf, Auckland Region |
| Area | 0.01 km2 (0.0039 sq mi) |
| Length | 0.27 km (0.168 mi) |
| Width | 0.07 km (0.043 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 22 m (72 ft) |
| Administration | |
New Zealand | |
- See Alderney for the gannet colony Les Étacs, popularly called Gannet Rock
History
editTraditional Tāmaki Māori histories describe a visit to Horuhoru Rock (Gannet Rock) by the crews of the migratory canoes Tainui and Arawa left Raiatea at similar times, and both explored the Bay of Plenty area. The crew of both canoes met at Horuhoru Rock, where a ceremony was held in memory for the relatives they had lost on the journey. During the ceremony, a mauri stone brought with them on their voyage named Tīkapa was placed on the island. The name Tīkapa Moana was adopted for the surrounding ocean, and became the name of the gulf.[2]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ BirdLife International. (2012). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Gannet Rock (Horuhoru). Downloaded from "BirdLife International - conserving the world's birds". Archived from the original on 10 July 2007. Retrieved 22 December 2012. on 2012-02-02.
- ^ Green, Nathew (2011). "From Hawaīki to Howick – A Ngāi Tai History". Grey's Folly: A History of Howick, Pakuranga, Bucklands-Eastern Beaches, East Tamaki, Whitford, Beachlands and Maraetai. By La Roche, Alan. Auckland: Tui Vale Productions. pp. 16–33. ISBN 978-0-473-18547-3. OCLC 1135039710.
36°43′25″S 175°10′13″E / 36.72361°S 175.17028°E
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