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Nelson Historical Society Journal, Volume 2, Issue 4, May 1970

[section]

page 10

In Cook Strait there lies a green island. The Maoris called it Rangitoto, but a Frenchman gave it his own name, and by that we know it today. D'Urville Island has been the scene of many interesting events in New Zealand's history. It has seen the coming of Kupe, Tasman and Cook, and the early colonists, on leaving England in their small convoys, made it their rendezvous.

The island is long and slender, the high cliffs of its western side broken by the inlets of Port Hardy and Greville Harbour. In either of these waterways it is easy to find ones self out of sight of the open sea, riding in a bay of green water; the bush, thick and tangled, covers steep slopes and shelters pigeons, tuis, woodhens and deer. Small fawns will stand and gaze at you, only to vanish the moment your eyes flicker.

The northern end is a rugged cape, sprayed by the thrashing sea, and black rocks rear their defiant heads out of the foam.