Ahaaha Rocks or Ahaaha Islets are small islands in the Hauraki Gulf of Auckland, New Zealand. It is part of a collection of islands known as The Noises northeast of Rakino Island.[1]
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 36°41′26″S 175°01′28″E / 36.690444°S 175.024444°E |
| Administration | |
New Zealand | |
| Region | Auckland |
| Demographics | |
| Population | uninhabited |
Description
editAlso known as the Ahaaha Islets, the islands are 3.62 km (2.25 mi) east of the Motuhoropapa Island.[2][citation needed] The Ahaaha Rocks are approximately 1.2 m (3.9 ft) high near another outcropping called David Rocks. The Ahaaha Rocks are surrounded by a 0.4 km (0.25 mi) reef.[3] They are small islands located in the Hauraki Gulf of the Auckland region in New Zealand.[4]
History
editThey are part of a chain of islands and other rock stacks which are known as the Noises. They are thought to be 130 million years old. Ahaaha is one of the smaller islands and rocky reefs of the Noises.[5] On September 21, 1973 a large wooden motor yacht named the Rangiora collided with the Ahaaha Rocks which created a hole in the ship. Ten people were rescued from the sinking vessel. New Zealand Police, Royal New Zealand Coastguard, and two commercial ships were able to rescue the crew and passengers before it sank.[6][7] The yacht was holed, but was refloated and repaired.[6]
Marine life
editThe Ahaaha Rocks is a rocky reef with a large variety of marine life including goatfish, snapper, and spotty.[8][9] Consequently, it is reputed to be "another hot-bed for the Auckland boating populace" with Kingfish also being common.[10][11] The area contains spiny kelp or leather kelp known as Ecklonia radiata and the area around Ahaaha is a sponge habitat.[12]
The COVID-19 lockdown resulted in an enforced ban on recreational vessels. An observed increase in dolphin and fish communication ranges was discovered in many areas, including the Ahaaha Rocks.[13]
It is an occasional destination for intrepid sea kayakers.[14]
References
editCitations
edit- ^ Map Showing Location of Rakino Island
- ^ New Zealand Pilot. Washington D.C.: US Government Printing Office. 1929. p. 134. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ^ Sailing Directions for New Zealand (3rd ed.). Fort Belvoir, Virginia: Defence Mapping Agency. 1976. p. 89. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ^ "New Zealand Gazetteer". Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ "The Noises". The Noises. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Rangiora Sinks off Waiheke; Ten Rescued". waitematawoodys.com. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- ^ "Launch Holed In Gulf: Ten Rescued". New Zealand Herald. 22 September 1973.
- ^ Rayner, M. J.; Baba, Y.; Blom, W.; et al. (1 October 2021), A Monitoring Plan for The Noises Ecosystem, Auckland: Auckland War Memorial Museum, Wikidata Q123698817, retrieved 14 October 2023
- ^ "Fishing: Keep snapping up snapper". New Zealand Herald. NZME Publishing Limited. 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ^ "Easter moon brings mixed blessings". NZME Publishing Limited. New Zealand Herald. 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ^ "100 of New Zealand's best fishing locations!". Fishing New Zealand. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ^ Haggiitt, Tim. "Noises Islands Rocky Reef Survey Summary" (PDF). The Noises NZ. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ^ Pine, Matthew K.; Wilson, Louise; Jeffs, Andrew G.; McWhinnie, Lauren; Juanes, Francis; Scuderi, Alessia; Radford, Craig A. (13 July 2021). "A Gulf in lockdown: How an enforced ban on recreational vessels increased dolphin and fish communication ranges". Global Change Biology. 27 (19): 4839–4848. doi:10.1111/gcb.15798.
This sudden drop resulted in fish and dolphins experiencing an immediate increase in their communication ranges by up to an estimated 65%. Very low vessel activity during the lockdown (indicated by the presence of vessel noise over the day) revealed new insights into cumulative noise effects from vessels on auditory masking.
- ^ "Sea Kayaking Trip to The Ahaaha Rocks on 19th/20th March 2011". Auckland, New Zealand. 4 April 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
Bibliography
edit- Davies, John (1851). A Tahitian and English dictionary. p. 8.
the name of a fish remarkable for its rapidity in swimming; rapidity, swiftness; a swift pursuer; to pursue, as a warrior his enemy; neat, smart, of genteel carriage; cadaverous, as a dead animal
- Fox, Charles Elliot (January 1925). The Threshold of the Pacific: An Account of the Social Organization Magic and Religion of the People of San Cristoval in the Solomon Islands. A. A. Knopf. p. 237. ISBN 9780598691446.
- Louis, Renee Pualina (2011). David M. Mark; Andrew G. Turk; Niclas Burenhult; David Stea (eds.). Landscape in Language: Transdisciplinary perspectives "Hawaiian Stories Places: Replacing Cultural Meanings". Culture and Language Use. John Benjamins Publishing Company. ISBN 9789027287045.
- Williams, Herbert William; Polynesian Society (N.Z.) (1917). A Dictionary of the Maori Language. M. F. Marks, government printer. p. 3.
Alarm, shyness, want of confidence