Murihiku Regeneration
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    • Energy and Innovation Expo 2023
    • Science and Innovation Wānanga 2021
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    • Southern Ocean - Murihiku ki te Tonga
    • The Energy Transition Programme
    • Te Ao Tūroa - Environment
    • Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities
    • Regional System Leadership
    • Taonga Species Research
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Subantarctic Islands

The New Zealand Subantarctic Islands consist of five island groups south-east of Te Waipounamu:The Ross Sea Sector (160°E to 150°W). Shown are the Subantarctic Islands (green dots), Antarctic Convergence (grey shading), Ross Dependency (red line), and CCAMLR Convention Area (white dash) in relation to Murihiku.The Ross Sea Sector (160°E to 150°W). Shown are the Subantarctic Islands (green dots), Antarctic Convergence (grey shading), Ross Dependency (red line), and CCAMLR Convention Area (white dash) in relation to Murihiku.

  • Tini Heke - Snares Islands: about 100km southwest of Stewart Island/Rakiura
  • Hauriri - Bounty Islands: about 700km east-south-east of Te Wai Pounamu
  • Moutere Māhue - Antipodes Islands: about 860km southeast of Stewart Island/Rakiura
  • Moutere Ihupuku - Campbell Island: about 700km south of Te Wai Pounamu and 270km southeast of Auckland Island.
  • Maungahuka - Auckland Islands: about 465 south of Bluff

World Heritage Status

The Subantarctic Islands are located on the boundaries between two ocean fronts, and support outstanding biodiversity. The island groups and marine environment out to 12 nautical miles have UNESCO World Heritage status.

Together with Macquarie Island, the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands are a plant biodiversity hotspot and, with around 35 endemic taxa (found nowhere else in the world), have the richest flora of all the subantarctic islands that surround the Antarctic continent.

A large number and diversity of seabirds and penguins nest in the islands, with 126 bird species in total, including 40 seabirds of which five breed nowhere else in the world.

The islands are home to endangered rāpoka (New Zealand sea lions) as well as several million tītī (muttonbirds). At least twelve of the 18 penguin species worldwide occur in the Ross Sea Sector.

In winter and spring, tohorā (southern right whales) congregate in the waters around Maungahuka and Moutere Ihupuku to breed.

The Ross Sea region is home to a distinctive type of kākahi (killer whale) that hunts toothfish and skilfully navigates through sea ice.The Ross Sea region is home to a distinctive type of kākahi (killer whale) that hunts toothfish and skilfully navigates through sea ice.

In this section

  • Our Mahi
    • Te Ara Aukati Kore - Education, Training, and Capability
      • He Ao Hou: New Futures Murihiku
      • Kia Tū Pathway Planning Programme
        • Kia Tū in schools
        • Kia Tū SIT Trade Training Programme
      • Anamata Māia: Bold, Confident Futures Service
        • Core Service Values
        • Our Kaimahi - Staff
      • Have your say!
    • Southern Ocean - Murihiku ki te Tonga
      • Subantarctic Islands
      • The Ross Sea Sector
      • Murihiku ki Te Tonga: Programme Overview
        • MKTT Research & Monitoring Programme
        • MKTT Science Team
        • MKTT Media and Resources
        • Scientific Expeditions
      • Blog
    • The Energy Transition Programme
      • Towards 2030- Regional Energy Action Plan
      • Energy Transition Plan
      • Murihiku Southland Regional Energy Development Plan - December 2023
      • Tiwai Future
        • Preliminary Closure Study
        • Cultural Significance of Tiwai Point
        • Environmental significance of Tiwai Point and surrounds
        • Tiwai Point - a contaminated site
        • Key documents and further reading
        • Have your say
      • He Honoka Hauwai - German-NZ Green Hydrogen Centre
      • Clean Energy Workstream
        • Renewable Energy Strategy
        • Documents - Key Reading
        • Have your say
      • Hydrogen and Green Energy
      • Hydrogen and Climate Change
      • Bell Bay Hydrogen Cluster
    • Te Ao Tūroa - Environment
      • Hokonui Rūnanga Kaupapa Taiao
      • Te Tapu o Tāne Ltd
      • Climate change
      • Have your say
    • Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities
    • Regional System Leadership
      • Building leadership across the takiwā
    • Taonga Species Research
      • What we do
      • Latest updates

Latest news

Sponsors line up powers 2024 Murihiku Regeneration Energy and innovation Wānanga to success

A powerful line up of over 30 sponsors have helped make the 2024 Murihiku Regeneration Energy and Innovation Wānanga a huge success. The two day regenerative event focused on energy, oceans and innovation opportunities for Murihiku-Southland communities and for New Zealand. It was supported by an… Read more

© 2025 Murihiku Regeneration • Website by RS

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the team
    • Structure and Context
    • Office of Upoko
    • Te Rūnaka o Awarua
    • Waihōpai Rūnaka Inc.
    • Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka
    • Hokonui Rūnanga
    • Our Partners
      • MSD Community Connection Service
    • Job vacancies
  • Events
    • He Ao Hou - New Futures Murihiku Teacher PD Day
    • Energy and Innovation Wānanga 2024
    • Energy and Innovation Expo 2023
      • He Ao Hou - New Futures Murihiku 22 May
      • Live Streaming of Wānanga 23 and 24 May
      • Hosts and Key Speakers 23-24 May
      • Energy and Innovation presentations - 23 May
        • Opening Addresses
        • Global Session
        • Empowering partnerships: government's role in Aotearoa's energy transition
        • Climate Economics
        • Regional Infrastructure
        • Social regeneration and innovation
        • Regional Innovation
        • The importance of the Māori economy through this change
      • Energy and Innovation presentations - 24 May
        • Regional Leadership Panel
        • Regional Plans and Priorities
        • Southern Green Hydrogen
        • Tiwai Smelter Future
        • Southland Aquaculture
        • Regional Case Studies: Decarbonisation
        • Innovation and Bluff Re-imagining
        • Confirming Priorities: wrap-up and closing
    • Science and Innovation Wānanga 2021
  • Our Mahi
    • Te Ara Aukati Kore - Education, Training, and Capability
      • He Ao Hou: New Futures Murihiku
      • Kia Tū Pathway Planning Programme
        • Kia Tū in schools
        • Kia Tū SIT Trade Training Programme
      • Anamata Māia: Bold, Confident Futures Service
        • Core Service Values
        • Our Kaimahi - Staff
      • Have your say!
    • Southern Ocean - Murihiku ki te Tonga
      • Subantarctic Islands
      • The Ross Sea Sector
      • Murihiku ki Te Tonga: Programme Overview
        • MKTT Research & Monitoring Programme
        • MKTT Science Team
        • MKTT Media and Resources
        • Scientific Expeditions
      • Blog
    • The Energy Transition Programme
      • Towards 2030- Regional Energy Action Plan
      • Energy Transition Plan
      • Murihiku Southland Regional Energy Development Plan - December 2023
      • Tiwai Future
        • Preliminary Closure Study
        • Cultural Significance of Tiwai Point
        • Environmental significance of Tiwai Point and surrounds
        • Tiwai Point - a contaminated site
        • Key documents and further reading
        • Have your say
      • He Honoka Hauwai - German-NZ Green Hydrogen Centre
      • Clean Energy Workstream
        • Renewable Energy Strategy
        • Documents - Key Reading
        • Have your say
      • Hydrogen and Green Energy
      • Hydrogen and Climate Change
      • Bell Bay Hydrogen Cluster
    • Te Ao Tūroa - Environment
      • Hokonui Rūnanga Kaupapa Taiao
      • Te Tapu o Tāne Ltd
      • Climate change
      • Have your say
    • Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities
    • Regional System Leadership
      • Building leadership across the takiwā
    • Taonga Species Research
      • What we do
      • Latest updates
  • Latest News
  • Contact