Motuareronui / Adele Island facts for kids
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 Motuareronui / Adele Island
Location in New Zealand
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 40°58′50″S 173°03′33″E / 40.98056°S 173.05917°E |
| Adjacent bodies of water | Tasman Bay |
| Total islands | 1 |
| Length | 1.5 km (0.93 mi) |
| Width | 1.1 km (0.68 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 119 m (390 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Department of Conservation | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Motuareronui / Adele Island is a small island located off the coast of New Zealand. It is a special part of the Abel Tasman National Park. A French explorer named Dumont d'Urville mapped this island in 1827.
In the 1850s, the island and nearby Fisherman Island were bought by a person from Nelson. Later, the government took them over. By 1895, both islands became protected areas called "scenic reserves." This means they are kept safe for their natural beauty.
These islands help protect a calm water area called the Astrolabe Roadstead. This makes it a great spot for people who enjoy kayaking and boating.
Contents
What's in a Name?
How Adele Island Got Its Name
Dumont d'Urville, the explorer, named the island "Adele" after his wife, Adele Pepin. He also named the nearby Fisherman Island and the Astrolabe Roadstead. The roadstead was named after his ship, the Astrolabe.
The Official Name Change
In August 2014, the island's name was officially changed to Motuareronui / Adele Island. The Māori name, Motuareronui, has a special meaning. Motu means island, arero means tongue, and nui means big. So, Motuareronui means "the big island shaped like a tongue." This also suggests that Fisherman Island is "the little island shaped like a tongue."
However, some people, like Philip Simpson, who wrote a book about Abel Tasman National Park, think the names might be a bit mixed up.
Māori Culture and Island Names
In Māori culture, tongues (arero) are very important. But the islands don't really look like tongues. A recent agreement about Tasman Bay also supports the idea that the two islands might have been named incorrectly. Some believe they should be called Motuaorerenui and Motuaorereiti instead.
Images for kids
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Motuareronui / Adele Island in Abel Tasman National Park.
