Stewart Island
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Foveaux Strait |
| Coordinates | 47°00′S 167°50′E / 47.00°S 167.84°E |
| Archipelago | New Zealand archipelago |
| Area | 1,747.72 km2 (674.80 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 980 m (3220 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Anglem / Hananui |
| Administration | |
| Electorates | Invercargill (general) Te Tai Tonga (Māori) |
| MPs | Penny Simmonds (New Zealand National Party) Tākuta Ferris (Te Pāti Māori) |
Local Government | |
| Regional Council | Environment Southland |
| Largest settlement | Oban |
| Territorial authority | Southland District |
| Community Board | Stewart Island/Rakiura Community Board |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 460 (June 2024) |
| Pop. density | 0.26/km2 (0.67/sq mi) |
Stewart Island (Māori: Rakiura, lit. 'glowing skies', officially Stewart Island / Rakiura, formerly New Leinster) is New Zealand's third-largest island, located 30 kilometres (16 nautical miles) south of the South Island, across Foveaux Strait.
It is a roughly triangular island with a land area of 1,746 km2 (674 sq mi). Its 164-kilometre (102 mi) coastline is indented by Paterson Inlet (east), Port Pegasus (south), and Mason Bay (west). The island is generally hilly (rising to 980 metres or 3,220 feet at Mount Anglem) and densely forested. Flightless birds, including penguins, thrive because there are few introduced predators. Almost all the island is owned by the New Zealand government, and over 80 percent of the island forms Rakiura National Park.
Stewart Island's economy depends on fishing and summer tourism. Its permanent population was recorded at 408 people in the 2018 census. Most residents live in the settlement of Oban on the eastern side of the island. Ferries connect Oban to Bluff in the South Island. Stewart Island is part of the Southland District for local government purposes.