Moturoa Island restoration  

A safe haven for kiwi

Predator-free Motuora Island, in the Hauraki Gulf, is a perfect “kiwi creche” – a safe haven where young kiwi can grow until they are big enough to defend themselves back on the mainland.

Visitors watch as a young kiwi is released.

Volunteers have been working for the past 10 years to create a sanctuary for native plants and animals on the 80ha island, just north of Auckland.

They spend thousands of hours propagating and planting native trees and shrubs, at a rate of 25,000-30,000 a year.

More than 150,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted so far, covering more than a third of the island.

ASB Community Trust have supported the Motuora Restoration Society’s work since 1998, helping to fund weed control work and the building of a propagation shed.

In 2006 its $38,000 grant helped buy a tractor for mowing and hauling work on the island.

Society chairman Ray Lowe says that thanks to the volunteers’ work, the island is thriving.

A recent insect survey logged “an incredible 41,000 insects – an excellent count compared to some other comparable locations”.

The abundance of insect life has made it a perfect place for young kiwi to grow up. Operation Nestegg is undertaken in partnership with Auckland Zoo, with assistance from the Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery Trust.

Under the programme, eggs from Northland are hatched at the zoo and the chicks are later released on Motuora Island.

When they are big enough to defend themselves – about 1.2kg – they are returned to the wild in Northland.