Bare Island, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Bare Island, also known as Motu-O-Kura (or "the Island of Kura" in Māori
), is a small island located in the Pacific Ocean
in the southern Hawke's Bay
on the eastern North Island
of New Zealand
. It is located 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) off the North island coast, near Waimarama
, 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) south of Cape Kidnappers
.
On the south-west side of the island, there is an aquifer
exuding fresh water (called Nga Puhake-o-te-ora or "the burp of life"). From the shore Motuokura is bare, but from the seaward side, there is enough cover to provide resting sites for blue penguins
and sooty shearwaters
.
When Jules Dumont d'Urville
sailed past in 1827 he reported houses and boats on the seaward side.
, the island is named after a woman named Kura. Kura, during times of siege
, would dive down to obtain fresh water from the aquifer
on the island.
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
), is a small island located in the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
in the southern Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay is a region of New Zealand. Hawke's Bay is recognised on the world stage for its award-winning wines. The regional council sits in both the cities of Napier and Hastings.-Geography:...
on the eastern North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is located 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) off the North island coast, near Waimarama
Waimarama
Waimarama is a seaside village in Hastings District, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand-The Beach and Village:Many residents of Hawkes Bay, especially those in the Hastings District enjoy Waimarama as a seaside recreational beach, the strip of coast does have its own shops brings beach goers from Ocean...
, 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) south of Cape Kidnappers
Cape Kidnappers
Cape Kidnappers is a headland at the southeastern extremity of Hawke Bay on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. It is located 20 kilometres southeast of the city of Napier...
.
On the south-west side of the island, there is an aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
exuding fresh water (called Nga Puhake-o-te-ora or "the burp of life"). From the shore Motuokura is bare, but from the seaward side, there is enough cover to provide resting sites for blue penguins
Little Penguin
The Little Penguin is the smallest species of penguin. The penguin, which usually grows to an average of in height and in length , is found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand, with possible records from Chile.Apart from Little Penguins, they have several common names...
and sooty shearwaters
Sooty Shearwater
The Sooty Shearwater is a medium-large shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. In New Zealand it is also known by its Māori name tītī and as "muttonbird", like its relatives the Wedge-tailed Shearwater and the Australian Short-tailed Shearwater The Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus) is...
.
When Jules Dumont d'Urville
Jules Dumont d'Urville
Jules Sébastien César Dumont d'Urville was a French explorer, naval officer and rear admiral, who explored the south and western Pacific, Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica.-Childhood:Dumont was born at Condé-sur-Noireau...
sailed past in 1827 he reported houses and boats on the seaward side.
The legend of Motu-O-Kur1a
According to Māori legendMaori mythology
Māori mythology and Māori traditions are the two major categories into which the legends of the Māori of New Zealand may usefully be divided...
, the island is named after a woman named Kura. Kura, during times of siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
, would dive down to obtain fresh water from the aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
on the island.