Kapiapia Rock
Island in New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kapiapia Rock is a tiny island about 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) offshore from Waikaretu, on the Waikato coast of New Zealand's North Island. It is less than 20 metres (66 ft) above sea level.[1]
Aerial view of Kapiapia Rock | |
 Interactive map of Kapiapia Rock | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Tasman Sea, Waikato region |
| Coordinates | 37.54030°S 174.72761°E |
| Highest elevation | 17 m (56 ft) |
| Administration | |
New Zealand | |
The rock is formed of Pliocene Ngatutura basalt, part of the Ngatutura volcanic field.[2] The island has sometimes been called Black Rock.[3]
Birds nesting on the rock include Black shags (kawau) Phalacrocorax carbo, Spotted shags (pārekareka) Stictacarbo punctatus, New Zealand pipit (pīhoihoi) Anthus novaeseelandiae and Dunnock (hedge sparrow) Prunella modularis[4] and molluscs on the rock include limpets (ngakihi) Notoacmea scopulina.[5]
The rock is associated with a legend about local weather, the brothers Rakapawhara and Te Atai-o-rongo and revenge by the latter's son, Kaihu, after a fishing trip near the rock had ended in his father's death.[6][7][8]
