Pigeon Island (New Zealand)

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Pigeon Island / Wāwāhi Waka is an island in Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand, near Glenorchy. It covers about 1.7 square kilometres (170 hectares) and is the largest island in the lake. In 1884, the Crown gifted it as a reserve for the people of the Queenstown area.

There are walking tracks around the island, making it easy to explore.

The lake gives the island a mild climate, and Pigeon Island is the only place in the Wakatipu Basin where kahikatea (white pine) grows naturally.

Flora and fauna
- Native birds you might see include tūī, kererū, bellbird, pipipi, and yellow-crowned parakeet.
- Buff weka were moved from Stevensons Island in 2006 and are now commonly seen.
- Native trees include kahikatea, miro, mataī, rātā, mistletoe, and red beech.

Restoration
- The Wakatipu Islands Reforestation Trust was set up in 1999 to replant native trees on the Lake Wakatipu Islands, focusing mainly on Pigeon Island.
- Volunteers have planted many trees such as rimu, kahikatea, and beech.
- The aim is to restore the islands to their natural state, remove introduced predators, and reintroduce birds and insects. The buff weka translocation has been particularly successful.

Threats
- Fires have caused serious damage in 1996 and 2003, often started by campers’ open fires; no prosecutions have been recorded.
- In 2009, parts of a rata tree were damaged by a chainsaw; removing anything from the island is illegal and can lead to costs.

See also
- Motueka Island (Pigeon Island)
- Island restoration projects in New Zealand