Motuihe Island Sanctuary - eco-success story
An uninhabited island just 30 minutes from Auckland city is one of New Zealand's recent ecological restoration success stories.
Motuihe Island, in the Hauraki Gulf, boasts a colourful history that includes a variety of uses from prisoner of war camp to sheep farming. Now the Department of Conservation (DOC) managed recreation reserve is being restored to its natural state with native trees and birds.
The 179-hectare island has long been a popular destination for Auckland boaties and day trippers who make the most of the attractive beaches and sheltered bays. It is also easily accessible by ferry with Auckland’s 360 Discovery company operating regular island discovery tours.
For the past few years hoards of committed volunteers have also taken the short boat trip to the island lending a hand in its restoration with dramatic results. Motuihe is now pest free and native birds are thriving in the regenerating forests.
Community project
It’s a far cry from the condition of the island in 2000 when the Motuihe Project was established by members of the community in conjunction with DOC. A community trust was formed and a restoration plan devised.
The island has a long history of Maori settlement prior to European occupation which then saw it used for farming, as a quarantine site, prisoner of war camp, children’s health camp and naval training base.
Now - thanks to DOC and Motuihe Trust volunteers - the goal of restoring, enhancing and protecting indigenous flora and fauna so that future visitors to the island can enjoy a quality recreational, environmental and educational experience, is being realised.
Volunteers in demand
Already 50 per cent of the island has been planted in eco-sourced native trees and plants.
Volunteers have gathered seed, raised seedlings in the island's nursery, and planted more than 160,000 specimens across the island in the past five years.
The committed group has also become involved in monitoring birds and insects to measure the success of the restoration programme.
Native birds
In March 2009 15 little spotted kiwi - the smallest species of kiwi - were released on the island.
The kiwi join an increasing number of other New Zealand native birds such as kakariki (red-crowned parakeet), saddleback, kereru / NZ pigeon, fantail, morepork, dotterill, blue penguin, oyster catcher and tui that are now flourishing on the island.
With the project requiring on-going monitoring, weed and pest control and further planting, volunteers are constantly in demand.
More information:
Island kiwi new Auckland tourist attraction
Bird conservation in New Zealand
Iconic New Zealand birds
New Zealand bird sanctuaries
Iconic New Zealand native fauna
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