“How did that get there?” you might ask yourself. That question is understandable when you see \u014crarapa Island. This small isolated stack is also known as The Haystack. It sits southwest of Motuhoropapa. The Haystack is part of a collection of islands. This collection is known as The Noises. They are northeast of Rakino Island. These islands reside in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf.
The Haystack is more than just a pretty rock. It’s a key piece of a unique ecosystem. The Noises boast significant conservation value. This is thanks to a lack of predators and intact native forests. Large numbers of breeding seabirds also contribute.
\u014crarapa Island itself covers only 0.8 hectares. Despite its small size it is an important part of The Noises. The Noises are islands composed of complexly folded Jurassic greywackes and argillites. Their shorelines are rocky and indented. Wave-cut platforms expose rock at low tide.
The Noises have a rich history. Maori from several iwi visited and inhabited them. They collected seafood and seabirds here. These included grey-faced petrels. One midden on \u014ctata shows occupation before Rangitoto’s eruption. That eruption happened about 600 years ago.
The origin of the name The Noises is interesting. French explorer Dumont D’Urville may have named them Les Noisettes. That means “The Hazelnuts”. This was later corrupted to “the Noisies” or “the Noises”. Local Maori call the Hauraki islands Ngā Pōito o Te Kupenga O Taramainuku. That translates to the floats of the net of Taramainuku. Taramainuku is a star. He is the captain of the waka in the constellation Te Waka-o-Rangi. He casts his net every night. He gathers the souls of the deceased.
The Noises have had few owners. Captain Frederic Stanley Wainhouse purchased the islands in 1933. His family formed the Noises Trust in 1995. They gifted the islands to the trust. The Neureuter family bach sits on \u014ctata. A hut on Motuhoropapa was built during a rat study. A navigation light shines on Maria Island.
The Noises have never been farmed. This has allowed them to retain high-quality native vegetation. The islands are a seed source for regeneration projects. Pōhutukawa and coastal karamu dominate the forests.
The Noises are home to rare species. Raukawa geckos and copper skinks live here. Giant wētā have been translocated to the islands. The islands are breeding sites for seabirds. These include grey-faced petrels and white-faced storm petrels.
Conservation efforts have been vital. Rats were eradicated from Maria Island in the 1960s. This was one of the first successful island rat eradications. The islands have been predator-free since 2002. An artificial spotted shag colony has been built on \u014ctata. This aims to attract the birds back.
The seabed around The Noises is special. It features rhodoliths and dog cockles. These habitats provide nurseries for scallops and snapper. Overfishing has damaged the seafloor. This has led to declines in marine life.
The Neureuter family has observed declines in marine life. This includes fewer baitfish and smaller snapper. A marine protected area has been proposed. This could help marine life recover. The story of Razza the rat is immortalized in a children’s book. Razza swam to \u014ctata.
So, as you gaze upon \u014crarapa Island / The Haystack remember its story. It is a story of conservation. It is also a story of cultural significance. It is part of a unique island ecosystem. It’s a reminder of the importance of protecting our natural heritage.