Each year since 1998 the Motuora Restoration Society has organised and funded weed control programmes, initially focussing on areas we could get to on foot – the interior of the island and gentler cliff slopes – and more recently attacking the steeper cliffs as well.

Toby abseiling over the cliff to check for weeds

Control of yucca on sand dunes

This year we have taken advantage of Toby and Sian’s extensive abseiling and weed control experience to have a major push on dealing to the weeds on the steeper cliffs, where most of our remaining weeds are located.  At the same time we have carried out our regular grid search of the interior of the island to locate the odd plant we have missed and new weeds grown from seed delivered by birds or the wind from plants on the mainland or nearby islands. 

This year’s weed control programme has not been cheap, but we have been fortunate to have obtained generous grants for the work from several sources, notably the Becroft Foundation, the Lion Foundation and WWF, and herbicides donated by Agpro NZ Ltd. 

The photos taken by Sian of Toby in action on the cliffs show that it’s not a job for anyone nervous of heights.

Text by Kit Brown

Photos Sian Potier

Toby abseiling towards the cliff

Cutting bone seed at top of cliff

Cutting bone seed at top of cliff

Toby with bone seed cut from cliff face

Toby abseiling to cut bone seed on cliff face

Flowering moth plant found in bush

A flowering moth plant found on coastal bank

Climbing asparagus dug out

A captive Duvaucel’s gecko, released in February this year

Two weeks ago,the Massey Uni Gecko Team (Vivienne, Alaine, Manu and Mark) caught 11 Duvaucel’s geckos. Ten of these endemic lizards were fitted with small “backpacks” containing transmitters in an effort to further understand the movement patterns and habitat use of New Zealand’s largest living gecko species.

Alaine, one of the geckos we fitted with a “backpack”, seen basking on a Flax leaf

Vivienne, from the Massey Uni Gecko Team, radio-tracking Duvaucel’s geckos

One of the geckos we caught was identified as one of the original geckos released in 2006, when Duvaucel’s geckos were re-introduced to Motuora Island.

Meet Jack. He is one of Motuora’s resident Duvaucel’s geckos, originally released in 2006

During ourstay, we were also fortunate enough to encounter many other native species Motuora has to offer including Moko skinks, Brown Kiwi, Little Blue Penguins and a very cute New Zealand Dotterel chick!

A Moko skink

By Vivienne Glenday

12 Motuora Kiwi have now been transferred to Mataia in Southern Kaipara.

Last month a team of 11 people spent a long night chasing kiwi with limited success. The goal was to catch 14 birds for transfer, but in the end only 5 were caught. These birds were released in front of a huge crowd at Mataia celebrating the return of kiwi to the Kaipara area after a 50 year absence.

Last Monday night a small group of 5 of us went out to try and collect more birds for the Mataia restoration project. The birds proved a little easier to catch and 8 birds were taken off the island, 7 of which were released at Mataia on Tuesday.

The collection team from Monday

Last Friday a team of DoC staff, 2 volunteers from Maranui Conservation Limited and Jade the dog came to the island to collect 14 kiwi to be transferred to their new home in the Brynderwyns.

Rolf with one of the kiwi

All 14 kiwi were caught on the Friday night, we managed to get the 14th bird just before midnight. The kiwi being transferred all had to be at least 1.2kg, any smaller birds caught were released. The kiwi were weighed, measured, and fitted with bands and transmitters so they can be tracked in their new home.

Kiwi being processed

Kiwi chicks that are released on Motuora as part of “Operation Nest Egg” are all microchipped so they can be identified. Any birds caught that don’t have a microchip are therefore island born birds. A large proportion of the transferred kiwi were island born birds showing that the breeding population of kiwi on Motuora is thriving.

The collection team