Goat Island is named after goats released by early European seafarers,to provide food for those who became marooned.In 1975 the waters around the Island were made New Zealand’s first marine reserve,Cape Rodney-Okakari point marine reserve.
It got its name after John Stedman in 1778 rowed his herd of goats to the island to protect them from wolves.But the bitter winter killed all the goats except for one,Old billy goat.British soldiers hearing the story nicknamed the island Goat Island.The name stuck.
