Stewart Island

Stewart Island / Rakiura

Native name: Rakiura  (Māori)
Geography
Location	Foveaux Strait
Coordinates	47°00′S 167°50′E
Archipelago	New Zealand archipelago
Area	1,747.74 km2 (674.81 sq mi)
Highest elevation	980 m (3220 ft)
Highest point	Mount Anglem
Administration
New Zealand
Electorates	Invercargill (general) Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
MPs	Penny Simmonds (National) Rino Tirikatene (Labour)
Local Government
Regional Council	Environment Southland
Largest settlement	Oban
Territorial authority	Southland District
Community Board	Stewart Island/Rakiura Community Board
Demographics
Population	440 (June 2022)
Pop. density	0.25/km2 (0.65/sq mi)

Stewart Island (Māori: Rakiura, lit. 'glowing skies', officially Stewart Island / Rakiura) is an island of New Zealand which is part of Southland. It is the country's third largest island and is located south of the South Island, across the Foveaux Strait. The island's only town is Oban, which is on Halfmoon Bay.

The economy of Stewart Island is mostly based on fishing and summer tourism, because in the winter it gets very cold on the island. The island can be accessed by boat or by plane. Ryan's Creek Aerodrome is the only airport on the island and offers direct flights to and from Invercargill Airport with Stewart Island Flights and to and from Queenstown Airport with Glenorchy Air. Ferries connect the island to the town of Bluff on the South Island.