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Flora & Fauna
Motuihe is a low-lying farmed island which has retained some scattered patches of native trees. Pohutukawa forms a coastal fringe, but the largest forest is west of the trig and includes Mahoe, Karaka, Kohekohe, Manuka, Mapou and Flax. The other remnant runs down to the eastern beach and is characterised by Taraire with Kohekohe, Puriri and Karaka. The long history of human occupation means that the indigenous vegetation is now highly modified, with only one surviving population of a nationally threatened species, the vulnerable Senecio scaberus, an endemic fireweed known only from the mouth of Von Luckner’s gully.
The Motuihe Weed Control Strategy has been prepared for the Motuihe Project by DOC. It details a programme of weed control.
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Mothplant Infestation |
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There are now many weeds such as gorse, thistle, apple of Sodom, and rhamnus, some of which are the subject of control programmes.
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Gorse on Korapa |
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Motuihe supports a number of unusual and noteworthy historic plantings dating from its varied usage since European settlement; e.g. the olive grove is of considerable historic significance.
There are few native birds, but pigeon, tui, and fantail are seen in and around the bush. Along the beaches, New Zealand dotteral, oystercatchers, gulls and terns are seen regularly. To hear the wonderful birdsong of NZ Native Birds, visit NZ Birds.com
NZ Dotteral in
breeding plumage
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Kereru
(Wood Pigeon)
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Bellbird
(Have you sighted
me at Motuihe |
On 11th August 2005 twenty Saddleback were translocated from Tiritiri Matangi Island to Motuihe Island. This was the first in a long term strategy of increasing the biodiversity of rare endangered fauna and flora on Motuihe Island.
The Restoration Planting Plan shows details of the collection time of seeds and treatment methods and species of trees to be planted on Motuihe Island as part of the reforestation program. |