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Ruapuke Island is one of the southernmost islands in New Zealand's main chain of islands. It is located to the southeast of Bluff and northeast of Oban on Stewart Island. It was named "Bench Island" upon its discovery by Captain James Cook in 1770, but has rarely been known by any other name than its Māori name, which means "two hills". Ruapuke Island shipping disasters before 1900
Ruapuke Island was called Goulburn Island by Captain John Kent, named after Frederick Goulburn, a Government official in New South Wales, but the whalers generally called it Long Island, or Robuck. The island covers an area of about . It guards the eastern end of Foveaux Strait. Notable Māori inhabitants on the island included Kāi Tahu chief Tūhawaiki and John Topi Patuki.
The eastern coast is dominated by two long, generally straight beaches to the north, and a series of smaller coves to the south. Between the longer beaches and smaller coves lies an inlet, the mouth of the only river system on the island. A smaller island, Green Island, some in extent, lies off the central east coast, and another small island, Bird Island, which is about a third the size of Green Island, lies west of Ruapuke's westernmost point. Other small islets and groups of islets can be found off the coast of Ruapuke. One group of small islets, the South Islets, none of them larger than in size, lie immediately to the south of South Head, and beyond these to the southwest is the similarly sized Hazelburgh Islet group. Between Green Island and South Head is a further small group, the Breaksea Islands. Numerous other smaller rocks and reefs surround the island.
The island was the site of several shipwrecks during the latter half of the 19th century, though most were without the loss of life. One exception was the collision of the cutters "Annie" and "Deveron" during a storm in April 1894, which resulted in the loss of two lives. The island and its surrounding rocks and reefs are still a hazard to the fishing vessels which ply Foveaux Strait, itself a notoriously dangerous stretch of water. Ruapuke Island at Shipwreck Log, showing the grounding of the fishing boat Torea off the island in 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2013.Harding, E. " Hurt takes its toll", stuff.co.nz, 27 March 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
Sheep were farmed on the island for some time, though it is now uninhabited, and privately owned by descendants of Tūhawaiki. The island is notable for its bird life, and it is a breeding site for the endangered yellow-eyed penguin." Ruapuke Island – 1941 and 2012 – In the footsteps of Edgar Stead (Part 9)", Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand. Cetaceans such as southern right whales may be spotted around the island during migration seasons.Department of Conservation, 2011, The right time for southern right whales.
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