Mokopuna Island facts for kids
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Nickname: Leper Island
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Mokopuna Island, from Matiu/Somes Island
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| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 41°15′S 174°52′E / 41.250°S 174.867°E |
| Length | 200 m (700 ft) |
| Width | 80 m (260 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Mokopuna Island is a tiny island in Wellington Harbour, New Zealand. Its name means 'grandchild' in Māori. The island is about 200 meters (656 feet) long and 80 meters (262 feet) wide.
Mokopuna Island sits just north of the much larger Matiu/Somes Island. A narrow channel, about 50 meters (164 feet) wide, separates the two islands. Along Mokopuna's shores, you can see cool wave-cut arches and caves.
Today, Mokopuna is a special place for birds. It is a bird reserve where gulls and blue penguins build their nests. To protect the birds, no one is allowed to land on Mokopuna Island.
Island History
Mokopuna Island has an interesting and unique history. For about three months in 1904, one of its caves became a temporary home. A man named Kim Lee, who sold fruit, was sent to live there alone.
People at the time thought he might have a serious illness called leprosy. Even though Matiu/Somes Island was used as a place for people to stay when they were sick, Kim Lee was kept separate on Mokopuna.
He received food and water using a special cable system, sometimes called a 'flying fox', from Matiu/Somes Island. Kim Lee passed away on Mokopuna on March 14, 1904. He was later buried on Matiu/Somes Island.
