Native plants and wildlife are flourishing on an island in the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana due to the hard work of dedicated conservationists over the past 25 years.
The Motuihe Trust, which was established in 2000, has restored former farmland into regenerative native forest to provide a safe habitat for native species on Motuihe Island.
The Trust’s mission is supported by mana whenua Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and Ngāti Paoa, who are guardians/kaitiaki of the island.
The island, which was declared pest free in 2005, is now home to species such as the little spotted kiwi, tuatara, saddlebacks, red-crowned parakeets, Duvaucel’s geckos, shore skinks, and weta.
Over the past 25 years, volunteers have helped plant more than 450,000 trees and a juvenile canopy is forming over the island.
Volunteers are also working to control invasive weeds to protect the island’s newly-established bush areas and ecosystems. The Trust recently carried out a successful trial using drones in the battle against invasive weeds.
With the planting largely complete, the team is turning its attention to a range of other projects on the island including establishing self-regenerating populations of beautiful red-flowering ngutu kākā/kākābeak and other endangered plant species.
The Trust is also reviewing the island’s wetland areas to enhance these precious habitats and ensure wetland inhabitants have access to fresh water over dry summers.
“We are extremely grateful to WWF-New Zealand for their support in ensuring our important programmes are able to continue,” says Trust spokesperson Ulrike Stephan.
The WWF Community Conservation Fund supports local communities to run projects that conserve and restore Aotearoa’s natural environment, while also educating New Zealanders about its importance.