Puysegur Point

For those New Zealanders' who listen to the long range or marine forecasts on the radio, the term 'Puysegur' is an everyday term. But what does it mean and where is it?

Puysegur is the most southwesterly point of the New Zealand mainland (South Island) and is as remote and mysterious as it's name. This is where the roaring forties whip around the bottom of the world and the only things here are a lot of sandflies, strong winds and a lighthouse. Even that has a strange history.

Another timber 'Blackett' Lighthouse that went up in 1879, this one was vital to sailors making their way around the bottom of the island, and undoubtedly saved many lives. The keepers here were usually three married couples, each with a house. Building the facilities here would have been quite a mission, with a rough beach landing spot for supplies three kilometres away, and a walking track through thick bush, and of course uphill. The access has not improved, though helicopters can assist, on a rare good day. Though a few timber lighthouses survive, mental health and arson took this one down, and not via any of the keepers.

A psychiatric patient desperate for solitude had settled on Coal Island in the next Sound in 1943, but chose a spot where the beam from the lighthouse interrupted his sleep. He went ahead and interrupted it right back, holding all the keepers and their families hostage with his rifle and setting the tower on fire. The new one was made from concrete.

The incredible fact that this station had a telephone line (which was cut by the madman in his rampage) was achieved by feat of sheer bushmanship and endurance by the linesmen that put it in in 1908, and those that maintained it. New Zealand Geographic tells the story. The station was manned until 1990, many of the lighthouse families suffering poor health due to the sheer cold, dampness and poor nutrition associated with the location.

This is only the 'on-land' part of Puysegur, the 'sea area' extends far to the south towards the Snares and Auckland Islands. Several undersea features are unofficially named the Puysegur ridge, trench and bank.

As for the French place-name, it is a strong reminder that French navigators mapped this area in the 1820s, on La Coquille. In 1826 Jules de Blosseville published an map and account of the region, likely choosing the name for the French navigator M. de Puységur (1752–1809). In the 19th century, gold and coal prospectors used this station as a base to search for minerals. Though certain amounts of each were extracted, mining in Fiordland proved extremely unpleasant and did not last long.

NZPlaces has determined this place qualifies for an unusual place name, like it's nearest neighbours on our map, Chalky Inlet, Preservation Inlet, Revolver Hill, Steep - to Island, Welcombe Bay, Broke adrift Passage, Bad Passage and Useless Bay Inlet,

As always, NZPlaces would love an image of this far-flung and fascinating spot.

Image Credit:Googlemaps