Te Hauturu-o-Toi / Little Barrier Island, Protected nature reserve in Auckland Region, New Zealand.

Te Hauturu-o-Toi is an island nature reserve at the northern end of Hauraki Gulf, rising sharply from the water with steep rocky cliffs and forested slopes. The terrain climbs steeply inland, with the highest point reaching approximately 722 meters above sea level.

The island became New Zealand's first official nature reserve in 1895, following government purchase of the land from Māori residents the year before. This pioneering conservation effort set a path for environmental protection across the country.

The island holds deep meaning for Ngāti Manuhiri, who serve as guardians of the land through a co-management agreement. Visitors walking here move through a space where Māori stewardship and conservation work together today.

Visiting this island requires advance permission from conservation authorities, and access is kept very limited to protect the environment. Plan ahead, as only a small number of visitors are permitted annually.

The island shelters rare bird and reptile species found nowhere else, and serves as the only place in the world where a particular storm petrel species breeds in the wild. This concentration of endemic wildlife makes it a crucial refuge for New Zealand's natural heritage.

• Location: Auckland Region
• Elevation above the sea: 722 m
• GPS coordinates: -36.20000,175.08333
• Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:41