Paterson Inlet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paterson Inlet / Whaka a Te Wera |
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| Paterson Inlet | |
Paterson Inlet / Whaka a Te Wera as seen from Observation Rock
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| Location | Stewart Island / Rakiura |
| Coordinates | 46°56′24″S 168°05′27″E / 46.94000°S 168.09083°E |
| Type | Harbour |
| Native name | Te Whaka-a-te-Wera (Māori) |
| Etymology | Named after Te Wera, a local chief. Paterson Inlet has unclear origins. |
| River sources | Rakeahua River, Freshwater River, Tolson River |
| Basin countries | New Zealand |
| Max. length | 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) |
| Max. width | 6.3 kilometres (3.9 mi) |
| Surface area | 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 45 metres (148 ft) |
| Islands | Around 20 islands, including Ulva Island, Native Island, and Bravo Island |
| Sections/sub-basins | Big Glory Bay, South West Arm, North Arm |
Paterson Inlet / Whaka a Te Wera is a big natural harbour on the eastern coast of Stewart Island / Rakiura in New Zealand. A large part of this area is covered in untouched forest.
A Look Back in Time
The Māori were the first to live in this area. They settled in a place called The Neck. This is a long piece of land that stretches out into the inlet from the southern coast.
The only town on Stewart Island, Oban, is located on the northern side of the inlet. It's quite close to where the inlet opens up to the sea.
In the past, Paterson Inlet was a busy place for whaling. Whalers hunted Southern right whales here. Sadly, these whales were hunted so much that their numbers dropped very low. Luckily, more and more of them are being seen around the island now.
Exploring the Inlet
Paterson Inlet has three main parts, which are like arms reaching inland.
- North Arm and South West Arm are located deep inside the inlet, about 15 kilometres from its opening.
- Big Glory Bay is the third arm. It's found behind The Neck, in the southeastern part of the inlet.
Two rivers flow into the inlet: the Rakeahua River and the Freshwater River. The Freshwater River drains a large, swampy valley that covers much of the northern part of Stewart Island.
Islands of the Inlet
There are several islands inside Paterson Inlet. Two of the most well-known are Ulva Island and Native Island. These islands add to the natural beauty of the area.
Protecting the Waters
In June 2004, the government announced a special plan for Paterson Inlet. It was decided that the inlet would become a mātaitai (pronounced mah-tai-tai). This means it's a special area managed by local Māori to protect its fishing resources. This new status, called Te Whaka a Te Wera Mātaitai Reserve, officially started in December 2004. It helps make sure the inlet's waters and sea life are looked after for the future.
