About Project Island Song
Ipipiri/Eastern Bay of Islands
Key steps
Who's planning this?
Which islands?
Which pests?
What next?
Key steps
- Rodent and stoat eradication
- Ongoing island biosecurity actions
- Mainland pest control
- Planting
- Landscape plan
- Species restoration plan
Who's planning this?
Led by:
- Guardians of the Bay of Islands Inc
- Patukeha and Ngati Kuta (resident hapu at Te Rawhiti)
- Department of Conservation (DOC)
Supported by:
- local landowners
- tourism interests
The Guardians are also working with the following groups on a complementary mainland pest control project:
- Northland Regional Council
- Eastern Bay of Islands Preservation Society
- Te Rawhiti Enterprises Ltd
- New Zealand Kiwi Foundation
Which islands?
All of the islands in the chain from Motuarohia (Roberton Island) eastwards including Moturua, Motukiekie, Okahu, Waewaetorea, Urupukapuka, Poroporo, and all their associated islets including stepping - stone islets in the Rawhiti channel.
Which pests?
- Norway rats
- Ship rats
- Kiore (Polynesian rat)
- Mice
- Stoats
Ground-trapping and using trained dogs to help locate stoats will be necessary to make sure all stoats have been removed.
Now that the eradication has happened, what next?
With the eradication stage now complete, it is critical that the pests are prevented from reinvading the islands. A mainland pest control project, from Kaimarama Bay to Manawaora Bay, is underway to stop pests swimming back to the islands from mainland headlands. Pests may also arrive with people visiting the islands and your help is essential in helping reduce this risk. A high level of biosecurity is everyone's job. The Bay of Islands island visit information pack outlines how people can help keep the islands pest-free.
Tui and bellbird at feeder
Restoration of the islands is part of a wider project involving reforestation of parts of the islands, track upgrades and improved archaeological interpretation.
What will the future bring?
Two years after a successful eradication, we hope to reintroduce native species to the islands - helping the islands sing again. Saddlebacks/tieke, North Island robins/toutouwai and bellbirds/korimako are some of these songsters.
back to top