Conservation Week runs from 1–9 November. To celebrate this we have asked DOC staff to share with us their favourite local conservation spot to visit.
Helen Ough Dealy, Partnerships Ranger, Bay of Islands
Sea, shingle, seaweed, shells, and the odd New Zealand dotterel/tūturiwhatu — my idea of heaven!
Motuarohia/Roberton Island in the Bay of Islands is my favourite local conservation spot to visit, and it has something for everyone.
Motuarohia/Roberton Island
This special place is a collection of three rocky islets, joined by shifting sandbars. After particularly high tides or storm surges the eastern sandbar can disappear entirely leaving that end of the island floating solo.
New Zealand dotterel/tūturiwhatu
Now pest-free and part of Project Island Song, Motuarohia is starting to live again — rails have returned and are thriving and there are so many weta that landowner have to check their gumboots before putting them on.
Motuarohia/Roberton Island – the view north
Come and see my favourite part of the Bay for yourself, but remember to be a defender of the island by stopping (on the mainland), checking (for pests) and then going (and having fun!).
Celebrate Conservation Week
Discover the world where you live this Conservation Week — find a local conservation spot on the DOC website.
Spelling error in the caption of first picture, an ‘s’ where there shouldn’t be.
Good spotting. Thanks Paul. We’ve fixed that up now.
Is the island predator free?
Yes. As the blog post says, Motuarohia is now pest-free. 🙂