Which strait lies between New Zealand’s South Island and Stewart Island?

Foveaux Strait lies between New Zealand’s South Island and Stewart Island.

The strait is in southern New Zealand and connects the Tasman Sea with the South Pacific Ocean. Its waters contain tidal flats, reefs, and several small islands, and strong currents can make navigation difficult.

The Māori name is Te Ara a Kiwa, commonly translated as “the pathway of Kiwa.” European charts adopted the name Foveaux Strait after Joseph Foveaux, an early nineteenth-century governor of New South Wales.

Foveaux Strait is distinct from Cook Strait, which separates New Zealand’s North and South islands. Stewart Island, also known as Rakiura, lies south of Foveaux Strait.