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Pomona Island
Pomona Island is situated in Lake Manapouri within the Fiordland National Park in the Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area. At 262 hectares, is the largest island in Lake Manapouri and is the largest inland island in New Zealand. The island was named by James McKerrow after the largest island in the Orkneys. Rising 340m above Lake Manapouri, Pomona Island is a round-topped granite hill with steep sides. At its closest it is only 450m from the mainland, separated by the aptly named Hurricane Passage. The island is almost completely bush clad with some impressive bluffs.
Pomona Island is situated in Lake Manapouri within the Fiordland National Park in the Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area. At 262 hectares, is the largest island in Lake Manapouri and is the largest inland island in New Zealand. The island was named by James McKerrow after the largest island in the Orkneys. Rising 340m above Lake Manapouri, Pomona Island is a round-topped granite hill with steep sides. At its closest it is only 450m from the mainland, separated by the aptly named Hurricane Passage. The island is almost completely bush clad with some impressive bluffs.
Flora and Fauna
In the early 1970s the slopes of Pomona Island 'held tall beech with occasional rata, miro, Hall's totara, and rimu, with a canopy height and luxuriance, approaching that of the beech forest on Buncrana Island', which, in the absence of browsing animals, supports virgin mountain beech forest. (Johnson, 1972). At that time there were no signs of possums or stoats on any of the islands in Lake Manapouri, although mice were likely to be present and deer likely to be found regularly on Pomona Island. Unfortunately since then both possums and stoats have been introduced to the island and have caused considerable damage to both the vegetation and birdlife.
In 1984 a survey of plant life on Pomona Island identified a total of 117 species (Quinn, 1984). At the start of the current project baseline research of flora, bird and invertebrate life on Pomona Island was undertaken so that the long term health of the island can be monitored.
The predominant forest cover is mountain and silver beech with podocarp and broadleaf species occurring to a lesser extent. The dominant broadleaf species are southern rata, kamahi, whilst miro, Hall's totara and rimu are the most common podocarp species. Other common plant species include tree ferns, lancewood, supplejack and stinkwood. A number of orchids have also been found near the lakeshore on Pomona Island.
In the early 1970s the slopes of Pomona Island 'held tall beech with occasional rata, miro, Hall's totara, and rimu, with a canopy height and luxuriance, approaching that of the beech forest on Buncrana Island', which, in the absence of browsing animals, supports virgin mountain beech forest. (Johnson, 1972). At that time there were no signs of possums or stoats on any of the islands in Lake Manapouri, although mice were likely to be present and deer likely to be found regularly on Pomona Island. Unfortunately since then both possums and stoats have been introduced to the island and have caused considerable damage to both the vegetation and birdlife.
In 1984 a survey of plant life on Pomona Island identified a total of 117 species (Quinn, 1984). At the start of the current project baseline research of flora, bird and invertebrate life on Pomona Island was undertaken so that the long term health of the island can be monitored.
The predominant forest cover is mountain and silver beech with podocarp and broadleaf species occurring to a lesser extent. The dominant broadleaf species are southern rata, kamahi, whilst miro, Hall's totara and rimu are the most common podocarp species. Other common plant species include tree ferns, lancewood, supplejack and stinkwood. A number of orchids have also been found near the lakeshore on Pomona Island.
History
In 1966 the government announced a plan to raise the level of Lake Manapouri for power generation purposes. A survey of the lake in 1969/70 concluded that to raise the level of the lake would result in 'almost all the scrub communities [being] totally submerged' (Johnson, 1972) resulting in the fairly rapid death of these submerged forests. Based on this scientific evidence a concerted Save Manapouri campaign was launched. In 1973 the lake was given statutory protection with the proviso the lakes be operated within its natural high and low levels. Hence, Lake Manapouri and the islands within it were saved for the nation. The Trust now wants to restore the islands within the lake to their natural state for future generations.
Little is known about the historical significance of Pomona Island. If anyone has any stories or experiences of Pomona Island which they would like to share with the Trust please contact us.
In 1966 the government announced a plan to raise the level of Lake Manapouri for power generation purposes. A survey of the lake in 1969/70 concluded that to raise the level of the lake would result in 'almost all the scrub communities [being] totally submerged' (Johnson, 1972) resulting in the fairly rapid death of these submerged forests. Based on this scientific evidence a concerted Save Manapouri campaign was launched. In 1973 the lake was given statutory protection with the proviso the lakes be operated within its natural high and low levels. Hence, Lake Manapouri and the islands within it were saved for the nation. The Trust now wants to restore the islands within the lake to their natural state for future generations.
Little is known about the historical significance of Pomona Island. If anyone has any stories or experiences of Pomona Island which they would like to share with the Trust please contact us.
Pomona Island has a variety of habitat types and its relative isolation from the mainland means it has a rich flora. However, introduced predators and browsing animals have had an impact on the island's biodiversity and native birds in particular. Our baseline ecological research and discussions with DOC suggest that eradication of introduced animal pests would result in a noticeable improvement in forest health and regeneration will result. This would hugely benefit native birdlife on Pomona Island with good potential for the re-introduction of a number of species. These could include: brown kiwi, saddleback, mohua, South Island kaka, South Island robin, South Island tomtit, kakariki (yellow-crowned parakeet and possibly red-crowned parakeet), bellbird, tui, kereru, South Island fantail, brown creeper, grey warbler, silvereye, South Island rifleman. Regeneration of the island could also support the introduction of the nationally endangered Southern short-tailed bat and Long-tailed bat species.
Department of Conservation
Porter and MacTavish