Kapiti Island is a steep island, 10km long by 2km wide, 6km off shore from the Kapiti Coast on the south west coast of New Zealand’s North Island. The island, with an area of 2200ha, has been a bird sanctuary for more than 80 years. Because Kapiti gives a panoramic view of the west coast of the North Island, and because of a 6km "moat" between it and the mainland, the island was a stronghold for the Maori tribe Ngati Toa.