New Zealand Subantarctic Islands

New Zealand Subantarctic Islands
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Location	New Zealand
Includes	Antipodes Islands; Auckland Islands; Bounty Islands; Campbell Islands; Snares Islands / Tini Heke;
Criteria	Natural: (ix), (x)
Reference	877
Inscription	1998 (22nd session)
Area	764.8 km2 (295.3 sq mi)
Coordinates	[ ⚑ ] 50°45′S 166°6′E / 50.75°S 166.1°E

Short description: Southernmost parts of the South Pacific country

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.^[2]

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 85–130 million years ago. They share some features with Australia's Macquarie Island to the west.

History

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. Protection of reserves was strengthened in 2014, becoming the largest natural sanctuary in the nation.^[3]

Islands

Antipodes Islands: Antipodes Island, Bollons Island, the Windward Islands, Orde Lees Island, Leeward Island, South Islet
Auckland Islands: Auckland Island, Adams Island, Disappointment Island, Enderby Island, Ewing Island, Rose Island
Bounty Islands: Main Group, Centre Group, and Eastern Group islets
Campbell Islands: Campbell Island / Motu Ihupuku, Dent Island, Folly Island, Jacquemart Island
Snares Islands / Tini Heke: Alert Stack, Broughton Island, High Island, North East Island, Western Chain islets

Territorial claims

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, 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.

Ecology

The Antipodes, Auckland, Bounty and Campbell Islands are collectively designated the Antipodean Islands in the World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions. The Snares Islands / Tini Heke are included with the South Island in New Zealand South under the scheme.