Motumānawa / Pollen Island facts for kids

Motumānawa / Pollen Island is an island in the Waitematā Harbour, very near the northern end of Rosebank Peninsula, in Auckland, New Zealand. It is one of two islands surrounded by the Motu Manawa (Pollen Island) Marine Reserve, the other being Traherne Island. The 500 hectares (1.9 sq mi) marine reserve was established in 1995. The official name of the island was changed from Pollen Island and gazetted as Motumānawa / Pollen Island on 12 November 2015.

The island was given its English name from Daniel Pollen, who bought it in 1855. He later became Premier of New Zealand.

The island has been owned and managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC) since late 2005, when it was acquired from Ports of Auckland. It was gazetted as an open scientific reserve in 2006. It had been leased by Forest and Bird from Ports of Auckland between June 1995 to June 2005. During the lease Forest and Bird identified the native plants and animals living there and prepared a management plan.