Mou Waho is a 120-hectare island in Lake Wānaka, New Zealand.[1] It is around the same size as the nearby Mou Tapu, these two islands being the largest in the lake. The island contains a small recursive lake, called Arethusa Pool: a glacial-scoured lake formed by the most recent ice age on an island, in a lake on an island.[2]
Buff weka thrive on the island are predators of much of the native wildlife including mountain stone wētā, cave wētā, and Southern Alps geckos.[3] For this reason students of the local Mount Aspiring College built 40 small wooden motels for these animals to safely live in.[4]
Name
The island was formerly variously known as Pigeon Island (therefore confused with its namesake on nearby Lake Wakatipu[5]) and Manuka Island. It was officially renamed Harwich Island in 1925[6] in honour of the Royal Navy's Harwich Force[5]but the name did not gain wide acceptance[5] and was renamed Mou Waho in 1988 after documents from the 1920s were found attesting to the original te reo Māori name.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Jensen, Briar (9 March 2022). "New Zealand's secret lake most Kiwis don't know". BBC Travel. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ Hindmarsh, Gerard (30 December 2023). "In praise of the unsung Trios". Stuff. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Woodworthia sp. 'Southern Alps'". Landcare Research. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ "New motels keeping wetas safe from wekas". Wanaka News. Otago Daily Times. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- ^ a b c d Mou Waho Island (Harwich) Scenic Reserve, Lake Wanaka on Land Information New Zealand website, viewed 2025-02=03
- ^ Otago Daily Times, Issue 19412, 23 February 1925, Page 7 viewed on Papers Past website, 2025-02-03