Motuihe Island eco-success story
An uninhabited island just 30 minutes from Auckland city has become the latest New Zealand ecological restoration success story.
Motuihe Island in the Hauraki Gulf boasts a colourful history which includes a variety of uses from prisoner of war camp to sheep farming. But now the Department of Conservation-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 boaties and day trippers who make the most of the attractive beaches and sheltered bays. It’s 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 the Department of Conservation - inspired by the vision of the island’s resident concessionaire. 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 now being realised.
Volunteers in demand
Already 50% of the island has been planted in eco-sourced native trees and plants. Volunteers have gathered seed, raised seedlings at Motuihe’s nursery and planted 160,000 of them across the island in the past four and a half years. The committed group has also become involved in monitoring birds and insects to measure the success of the restoration programme.
Native birds like kakariki (red-crowned parakeet), saddlebacks, kereru (New Zealand pigeon), fantails, morepork, dotterills, blue penguins, oyster catchers and tui are now happily existing on the island.
With the project requiring on-going monitoring, weed and pest control and further planting, volunteers are constantly in demand.
|
