Talk:Matiu / Somes Island

Silver gull
I'm not sure whether it's the silver gull on Matiu/Somes or another type of bird. Can someone correct me if I am wrong. Apologies if I am not supposed to edit this page. Bookscale (talk) 13:19, 24 June 2009 (UTC)

Requested move 1 November 2021

 * The following is a closed discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. Editors desiring to contest the closing decision should consider a move review after discussing it on the closer's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion. 

The result of the move request was: '''Not moved. (non-admin closure) ''' Simplexity22 (talk) 16:08, 9 November 2021 (UTC)

Matiu / Somes Island → Matiu/Somes Island – The current title format looks ugly. Moreover, I can't find a single source that formats the slash this way. The island's official name is Matiu/Somes Island, and most sources, such as DOC, Forest & Bird, and even the island's official website use Matiu/Somes. This article also spells it Matiu/Somes everywhere but its title, so it seems ridiculous to keep its current name. If there is a technical reason to keep this name, I'm happy to keep it here, although this seems unlikely given the proposed article title is already a redirect. YttriumShrew (talk) 19:32, 1 November 2021 (UTC)


 * It’s consistent with other dual names in NZ, and if it’s not the official name, it will be an anomaly. The space helps designate the two historic names, and give them separate but equal consideration, rather than hyphenate them together as one name. It is unusual that one of the names has not been preferred over the other in written sources, but locals will generally use one, not both.
 * All of which is to say: oppose. — HTGS (talk) 20:03, 1 November 2021 (UTC)
 * Oppose per HTGS. Title fits dual name formatting policy per WP:NCNZ --Spekkios (talk) 20:52, 1 November 2021 (UTC)
 * I don't think that WP:NCNZ applies here. Most locals (of which I am one) use "Matiu/Somes Island" or "Matiu/Somes" to refer to the Island, and nGrams throws up far more mentions for Matiu/Somes and Matiu/Somes Island than either Matiu or Somes (I've linked to my searches, but I might have searched incorrectly as I haven't used it many times before). WP:COMMONNAME and WP:OFFICIALNAME trump WP:NCNZ. YttriumShrew (talk) 21:31, 1 November 2021 (UTC)
 * I’d be surprised if the slash wasn’t doing something funny in nGrams, as the dual name didn’t exist prior to the 1990s, much less the 1890s. (FYI: I personally can’t stand the spaced slash either, but I just take it as the price of consistency.) — HTGS (talk) 22:55, 1 November 2021 (UTC)
 * Indeed, in nGrams the slash literally divides one term by another: advanced nGrams. — HTGS (talk) 23:02, 1 November 2021 (UTC)
 * OK, I guess we won't be able to use nGrams data. YttriumShrew (talk) 00:42, 2 November 2021 (UTC)
 * You can try Google trends, but it’s not that much better (and obviously has a very different focus). I get the impression, looking at it earlier (sorry, I can grab you a link later), that there may be other Matius clouding the water. Nothing’s perfect, I guess. — HTGS (talk) 01:13, 2 November 2021 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.
 * Oppose. The official name is written Matiu / Somes Island, not Matiu/Somes Island. I have added this info to the article, with two references. This weakens the proposer's argument to the extent that I don't think there is much reason remaining for the proposed change. Nurg (talk) 04:05, 3 November 2021 (UTC)
 * Oppose I think this is the only time I'm going to agree with HTGS and Spekkios on a dual name. Title formatting matches the remaining portions of WP:NZNC and is consistent with the approach to other dual names. Turnagra (talk) 08:08, 4 November 2021 (UTC)

Translocation of robins
The article mentions the translocation of robins to the island. On a recent visit, I asked one of the guides about this, because we hadn't seen any robins. We were told that unfortunately, the robins had not survived - it appears that the ecology of the island doesn't yet provide sufficient food for robins. I am not aware of any source we can quote, but will keep trying.--Marshelec (talk) 07:56, 12 December 2022 (UTC)


 * Finally found a source that states that the robins did not thrive, and have included this in the article.Marshelec (talk) 02:50, 22 May 2023 (UTC)

Historical role as quarantine station
More content is needed about the role of the island as an animal quarantine station, given the long period of use in that role, and the extensive quarantine station buildings that still remain. Marshelec (talk) 07:54, 21 January 2023 (UTC)


 * @Marshelec I've added a bit more about the quarantine station. Anything else needed? Wainuiomartian (talk) 06:32, 3 April 2023 (UTC)

Inconsistencies in naming
Some species of plants and wildlife have no scientific names attached, some have the scientific name linked and others have the common name (Enlgish and/or Maori) linked. Is there a recommended style for this, as it's getting clunky?Wainuiomartian (talk) 17:24, 28 March 2023 (UTC)


 * Never mind, I have changed them to make the style consistent throughout the article.Wainuiomartian (talk) 18:33, 31 March 2023 (UTC)

Some possible further additions
I think it would be useful to add a bit more to the geography section, to give some details of the geology of the island. Also, it would be worthwhile to add the interesting details of the artesian acquifer that is accessible from the island, even though it is fully surrounded by seawater. I have found a one source in a 1990 brochure published by Forest & Bird Lower Hutt, temporary copy here: but we ideally need more. I have some contacts with background in geology, and they have referred me to: On Shaky Ground, by Graeme Stevens. I will follow this up. On another matter, I think the lead is a bit overly condensed, and would benefit from some expansions. Compressing most of its human history to these two sentences seems too brief: "It was the site of military and quarantine internments, as well as animal quarantine until 1995. Since 1995, it has been designated as a scientific and historic reserve". Would you like to have a go at totally rewriting and expanding the lead ? It would be fine to have four decent paragraphs.Marshelec (talk) 01:58, 9 April 2023 (UTC)


 * I agree that the geological side of things is the big bit still outstanding - but can I just say, it's been a delight to see the article really come together recently, and I reckon with a bit more work it could easily go for GA status. Turnagra (talk) 03:56, 9 April 2023 (UTC)
 * @Marshelec okeydokey.Wainuiomartian (talk) 05:50, 9 April 2023 (UTC)
 * I have put some additional content, citations and an image into the section on Geology and geography. See what you think. I have asked a colleague of mine who has a background in geology to also review the content and suggest anything we might consider adding. However, I think now would be a good time to nominate the article for GAR. I will leave this to you...:) Marshelec (talk) 23:36, 18 April 2023 (UTC)
 * Nice. I rearranged that section a little. I will go ahead and nominate in a day or two.Wainuiomartian (talk) 03:24, 19 April 2023 (UTC)

Resetting the GA review
The GA1 review has stalled for a lengthy period, with no edits for a month. The reviewer has been inactive for over a week and has not responded to messages on their talk page. I have reset the process, so that a new reviewer can start again.Marshelec (talk) 05:17, 17 July 2023 (UTC)

Topographic map
@Vallee Many thanks for creating the topographic map of the island. I think this is a useful addition - it helps readers to understand the physical geography of the island, and supports the text. Let's see if there is feedback from any others who have this page on their watchlist. Marshelec (talk) 01:12, 13 January 2024 (UTC)


 * I agree that the maps (on all of the islands) look great! My only wish is that they followed the topo map conventions a bit more, but that doesn't have a huge impact by any stretch. Turnagra (talk) 01:19, 13 January 2024 (UTC)
 * @Turnagra Hmmm. In my feedback to User:Vallee about an earlier version of the Kapiti Island topographic map, I made the observation that the green-to-brown colour shading in steps of altitude created a distinct but misleading impression that the top of the island was brown/dirt/rock. So the departure from the conventions is possibly down to me. Perhaps I am wrong, but I think that the green shading in this example (and also Kapiti Island) is better for the purposes of these articles about the two islands. Marshelec (talk) 01:30, 13 January 2024 (UTC)