The Noises

The Noises
	Looking northeast from Maria (lower right) to David Rocks, Ōtata and Motuhoropapa (top left)
Geography
Location	24 km (15 mi) northeast of Auckland
Coordinates	36°41′42″S 174°58′30″E / 36.69500°S 174.97500°E
Archipelago	New Zealand
Adjacent to	Hauraki Gulf
Major islands	Ōtata; Motuhoropapa; Maria; Orarapa;
Highest elevation	67 m (220 ft)
Administration
	New Zealand
Additional information
Official website	www.thenoises.nz

The Noises are a collection of islands lying northeast of Rakino Island in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf, off the coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The largest and most forested islands are Ōtata and Motuhoropapa; Orarapa and Maria/Ruapuke are also significant. After a rat eradication campaign in the 1960s, Maria was the first New Zealand island to become predator-free. The lack of invasive predators, intact native forest, and large numbers of breeding seabirds give the Noises significant conservation value. There has however been a marked decline in marine biodiversity surrounding the islands from over-fishing.