page_title: Motuihe Island
section_title: Conservation
hierarchical_section_title: Motuihe Island / Conservation
caption_attribution_description: A look over the wharf while approaching on the local ferry to Motuihe Island, Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand.
context_page_description: Motuihe Island lies between Motutapu and Waiheke islands in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand, near Auckland. The island measures 179 ha, of which around 18 ha are remnants of coastal forest. The island is a recreation reserve controlled by the Department of Conservation and administered by the Motuihe Trust. It is a popular spot for day trips, accessible by 30-minute ferry trip from Auckland, by seaplane, or by private boat. The island is known for its beautiful beaches.
  The name comes from Te Motu-a-Ihenga, Māori for 'Ihenga's Island'.
context_section_description: The island's trust organises an active programme of pest eradication and is slowly replanting sections of the island with native trees. Rats and mice were eradicated in 1996 and rabbits in 2004. The conservation programme has reintroduced native species like the North Island saddleback (tieke). The Trust maintains a small conservation presence on the island, and usually has a number of volunteers working at the local tree nursery or in other conservation programmes.
  In early 2008, rat footprints were found in a tracking tunnel (a device to check for the presence of certain animals) on the island. This set off a substantial effort by the trust and DOC to catch the rodent, which was feared to be part of a larger infestation. The Norwegian rat was eventually trapped by a special hunting dog, allowing plans to release native red-fronted parakeets (kākāriki) to continue as planned in May 2008, when 31 were brought by helicopter from Little Barrier Island, where there is a relatively large population.
  In March 2009, fifteen little spotted kiwi were released on the island.
  In May 2009, 350 'agents' of The Nikolai Organisation planted 22,400 native trees on Motuihe Island in just one day, which was 40% of the 2009 planting programme.
  In 2017, Ricoh New Zealand employees and customers finally reached their goal of planting 20,000 trees across "Ricoh Valley".
  Many invasive weed species are present on Motuihe. Moth plant, woolly nightshade and rhamnus slow the forest's regeneration. They require constant management from the help of volunteers.
caption: The wharf on the southern side of the island, with the bay behind filled with day-tripper boats.
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