More than 80% of Rakiura Stewart Island’s eligible residents have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Some 257 people were vaccinated at a successful two-day clinic there this week, including 66 within the first hour of it opening. 

Fifty-two of the island's 385 eligible population had already received their vaccination elsewhere.

A second dose clinic will run on the island on the 18 and 19 August to ensure residents are fully vaccinated, but the team will take enough vaccine to offer first doses to any residents who missed out on this week's clinic.

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The clinic was operated by staff from Awarua Whānau Services, Ngā Kete Mātauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust and Southern DHB, with support from WellSouth Primary Heath Network.

Clinic lead Nadine Goldsmith says: "We're thrilled that so many people embraced this opportunity to get vaccinated in their own community and we got a lot of positive feedback that residents were very pleased we came to them."

The team operated four booths at the Stewart Island Community Centre, becoming New Zealand's southernmost vaccine clinic.

Southern District Health Board COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Incident Controller Hamish Brown congratulated the team and Rakiura Stewart Island community for the clinic's success.

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"The clinic was designed to bring the community together and that is what it has done. 

"Nadine and the team created a very welcoming atmosphere and did a phenomenal job in vaccinating so many people in such an efficient manner.

“This is a really positive response to the programme and we are very pleased that the local people took the opportunity to protect themselves and each other, particularly as a place that is popular with tourists."

Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara sanctuary guide Ulva Goodwillie was relieved to get vaccinated at the clinic yesterday.

She believed the COVID-19 vaccine would help to keep people in her community safe in a similar way to stopping invasive species reaching the bird sanctuary, home to some of New Zealand's most iconic and endangered species.

"(The vaccine) is to protect you against any invasive predators. Just as we try to keep Ulva Island predator-free, we should be able to do the same for ourselves."

Meanwhile, The Mattina vessel remains in quarantine in Bluff and is inaccessible by the public.

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Two of the COVID-19 positive mariners remain in Southland Hospital and are in a stable condition, after a second transfer yesterday.

"The transfers were done in a carefully planned and co-ordinated way, using all appropriate Infection, Prevention and Control protocols, working with St John Ambulance and other hospital staff, under the guidance of Southern DHB Medical Officers of Health", a Ministry of Health media update reads.