Coal Island, New Zealand facts for kids
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Native name:
Te Puka Hereka
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 Coal Island
Location in New Zealand
Location in New Zealand
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| Geography | |
| Location | Fiordland |
| Coordinates | 46°7′S 166°38′E / 46.117°S 166.633°E |
| Area | 11.63 km2 (4.49 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 251 m (823 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Coal Island is an island in Fiordland, in the southwest of New Zealand's South Island. Its Māori name is Te Puka-Hereka Island, which translated means The Tied Anchor, but the island is commonly known as Coal Island. Situated at the southern end of Fiordland's west coast, Coal Island lies in the entrance to Preservation Inlet, between Puysegur Point and Gulches Head. This area contains the southernmost fiords of Fiordland, some 200 kilometres (120 mi) south of Milford Sound.
The island is part of the Fiordland National Park and is an important conservation site. It was declared pest-free in 2005 and is one of only nine islands in the area that is completely free of introduced mammalian pests. Since then, endangered endemic birds such as tokoeka (Haast brown kiwi) and mohua (yellowhead) have been released on the island.
