November 2025 Newsletter

Cover Photo: Acknowledgement to Photo competition prize winner: David Waters

Upcoming Volunteer Trips

We have these midweek volunteer trips coming up, travelling by Dreamweaver from Pier Z:
Friday 5 December 25
Friday 12 December 25
If you are a group interested in joining one of these trips (or another date), please email Simon on volunteermotuihe@gmail.com

We have these volunteer trips coming up, all travelling by water taxi from Okahu Bay:
Saturday 13 December 25 (Kakabeak volunteer day - full)
Sunday 14 December 25 (General volunteer day - full)
Sunday 18 January 26 (Kakabeak volunteer day)
Saturday 7 February 26 (General volunteer day)
Thursday 12 February 26 (Midweek weeding)
Saturday 21 February 26 (Kakabeak volunteer day)
Sunday 1 March (General volunteer day)

Individuals can book on any of these trips by registering here:
https://motuihetrust.my.site.com/volunteer/s/weekend-volunteer or email volunteers@motuihe.org.nz. As we have limited space on the each trip, please only register on a trip once you are sure you are able to make it.

Screenshot 2025-12-03 104215

Red Boat Summer Schedule

The Red Boats are running a regular service to and from Motuihe over the summer, it's a great way to visit the island with your family. Ferry tickets can be booked online: Red Boat bookings

There is also camping available at the DoC campsite on the headland. Many campers report hearing kiwis calling, and some even see little spotted kiwi wandering around the camp sites during the night. Bookings are required through the DoC website: Campsite bookings

Volunteering Opportunities

Bookkeeper
We are still on the lookout for a bookkeeper. We use Xero to track our expenses, the job is relatively straightforward as our accounts are not complex. Time required is up to 10 hours per month over winter, and up to 5 hours per week over summer (Dec to March). The timing of when work is completed is flexible with only a monthly deadline to be ready for the Trust meetings. If you are able to help, please get in touch with operations@motuihe.org.nz

Kiosk training
For anyone who would like to help man the kiosk over summer, training night is Monday 8 December 7 pm at the OBC, or you can join online. Email operations@motuihe.org.nz if you are interested.

Fundraising update

We are grateful for the ongoing funding we receive from NZ Lotteries, the grants we have received over the past years have contributed hugely to our invasive weed control programme. This month we received further funding, to be spent on drone work around the cliffs. Removing invasive weeds from these difficult-to-reach areas reduces the seed source which otherwise continually blows over the island. It's a new technology that will help in our ongoing battle against the weeds that would otherwise undo all of our great work.

We have also received a kind donation from the ANZ Staff Foundation which will help fund our monitoring programmes over the next 6 months.

Thanks to all of our funders, we rely on grants and donations to fuel our project and we are truly grateful for the support we receive.

25 Year Celebration

They say if you prepare for the worst it will never happen. That is exactly what happened on Sunday 9th. I was very concerned about predicted thunder storms and warned everyone to bring a coat and managed to get everything at the woolshed under cover with the use of the marquee and the two DOC gazebos. The trick worked as there was only one very short sprinkle of rain and no wind.

The day went exceptionally well with the invisible hand of the “Motuihe spirit” making everything work smoothly. Thanks to that wonderful group of volunteers who give their time for Motuihe, when they see something that needs doing, they just do it. Nothing to do with my organization, the day just worked. The three guys on the BBQs, Ian, Ants and Graeme cooked hundreds of sausages and hash browns to perfection. Denise made the best coleslaw I have ever tasted, she grew the cabbages in her own garden so they were very fresh and had tasty herbs as well as carrots. Her idea of using bread sticks is something I will be doing for our family Christmas BBQ. The cake ladies, Jackie, Lois, Doris, Marjet and Monica produced an amazing variety of cakes with plenty for everyone. Lois’s photo display created a lot of interest. She and her husband Ed had worked for weeks converting old tapes on to a modern digital system so we could see old footage of releases and views of how the island used to look compared with how it looks today. Lois also spent the day driving people around on the tractor and she presented the photo competition prizes and organized the calendars for sale. She has endless energy. Jill Soufflot and Simon hosted the Red Boat and got everyone up to the wool shed on time and back home again. Not as straight forward as it might sound.

Ngᾱi Tai ki Tᾱmaki led by Billy Brown began the day with a mihi to everyone arriving on the island from the ferry. Mana whenua of the island were acknowledged including the support of Ngᾱti Paoa who were unable to attend on the day. It made the day complete to celebrate together with mana whenua. The activities worked well with walks led by Jill Bishop, Simon and David Waters. No tuataras to be seen but plenty of birds. Monica guided in the nursery and Margaret sold lots of calendars and ice creams. Hazel and Jackie presented the memories book idea and encouraged us all to contribute. Two of our trustees, Michael and Max gave me great support. I was very tired in the afternoon and was all for leaving the marquee up for another day but when I emerged from the wool shed after a rest, the “team” led by Paul Taylor had removed the marquee and packed it away under the woolshed - as I said, just like magic. A big thank you to the DOC team Paul and Seana. They not only lent us their BBQ and the two gazebos, but whisked the rubbish away without me even noticing. Not to mention their ultra work in the lead-up to make sure the island looked its best.

The main reason for the day of course was to catch up with old friends of Motuihe. With 103 people present there was lots of reminiscing going on with Roni Harrison, so good to see her, Don Thompson, Terry Gibbons, Helen Lyndsay, Steve Nelson and so many more. We were very sad that three significant people could not attend due to ill health, Chairman John Laurence, Trustee Julie Thompson and long term leader Phil Francis. They were greatly missed.

An event like this pushes us to complete tasks that might have taken longer to get done. Earlier in the year the three big heritage signs on the island were updated and upgraded, also we now have two additional toilets, the wonderful signage is up, and the nursery and woolshed have been tidied up ready for a new phase in the Motuihe story. My grateful thanks to everyone who helped with the celebration day including our lunch sponsors, Harmony Meats, New World Howick, New World Eastridge and Fresh Choice Half Moon Bay.

25 years is not just a date, it marks a turning point in the Motuihe project. We are turning from the basic restoration work which is now complete, to the specialized work of canopy trees, endangered plants and special projects none of which could be done without the work of the preceding 25 years. Motuihe Island is looking great and will steadily become even better with the enthusiasm and energy of the new and younger volunteers guided by the experience of the older group. It is a privilege to be involved. (Fiona Alexander)

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Billy Brown from Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki welcomes our guests

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Thanks and presentation to Roni on behalf of the Trust Micheal Wood and Roni Harrison cut the cake.

Motuihe Photo Competition

Congratulations to all the entrants for the wonderful images that were submitted - the independent judges were very impressed. We certainly have a great group of talented people within our supporters team.

The quality and creativeness of what was entered was excellent - we're a tad biased in that we have a beautiful island to be able to take photos on. The island environment is improving year on year with increasing birdsong, native birds self-introducing due to improving habitat, wetapunga are growing big and producing offspring, geckos are increasing in numbers and moving all around the island and what stunning beaches we have.

Thank you again to all the participants for their contribution and support. We'll be featuring the winning photos as the headers in our newsletters and the website over the coming 12 months.

Motuihe Calendars

We have a very limited number of calendars available featuring the winning images from our photo competition at a cost of $25 plus postage. The proceeds will go towards the Motuihe conservation restoration. Please contact info@motuihe.org.nz for orders.

Send in Your Motuihe Stories Now!

To mark 25 years of the work of the Motuihe Trust, we are compiling a book of Motuihe Memories. What has been a highlight for you or do you have a special memory of your time on the island? It can be a 2 line anecdote, a 2 page project, or anything in between, an achievement, a comment, a drama, what keeps you coming. One or several.

Email us at memories@motuihe.org.nz - even in rough form, so you don't forget. Any questions - email us. We will contact you before anything is finalised, but we hope to have collected all memories and suggestions by the end of 2025. (Hazel and Jackie)

Motuihe Article in Archaeology

One of our volunteers brought this interesting article to our attention, published in September 2008.
It has a lot of information about the history of Motuihe:
Archaeology article

Saturday 1st November & Sunday 2nd November - Penguin Overnighter

11 keen penguin volunteers headed to Motuihe for our second penguin overnighter. Luckily everyone brought their stamina along with them, which meant a huge amount of work was done and a lot of ground covered.

Known burrow sites were checked, and the beaches were searched for penguin prints. Cameras were put out overnight and checked the following day - one korora was caught on video nestbuilding (have a peek here Penguin collects nest materials ). And one penguin was seen coming ashore during the evening watch.

New nesting boxes were installed at Snapper Bay and the amphitheatre site, providing safe accommodation as an alternative to natural burrows which can be prone to erosion and collapse.

But overall, not too much korora activity was recorded - our nesting numbers seem to be down this year. Our programme aims to build data over consecutive years so that we can trend this better. And because we feed into national data through the NZ Penguin Initiative, our information helps to paint a picture of how our little blue penguins are doing throughout New Zealand. With strong statistics, we are hoping to highlight the plight of these taonga and help to stop their decline.

New nest box well camourflaged (Anna Wang)

Tuesday 18th November - Corporate Volunteer Day

Despite warnings of an "atmospheric river" 20 volunteers from Xero plus Frances, Philip and Andrew as weeding supervisors and the nursery team of Ann, Red, Coral, Kath and Dina saw lots of tasks completed before the rain arrived. Woollies and moth plants were attacked whilst back in the nursery 150 Poroporo were carefully pricked out. After lunch a stroll through the Tieke track saw 3 Tuatara basking in the sunshine. Many of us were caught out by the predicted arrival of rain just after 1. It was torrential! A hurried retreat was made to the Woolshed. Once all the "troops" were rounded up a decision was made to skip the beach clean and return to the City. Thanks to Dreamweaver for being nearby - a very wet group of volunteers headed back early.

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Poroporo in the nursery and lazing tuatara (Jill Bishop)

Wednesday 19th November - Corporate Volunteer Day

Once again the weather forecast was not looking good but as so often happens on our island paradise, no raincoats were needed - sadly cancellations had come in thick and fast the day before due to the rain predictions, but a brave team of 15 from Downers hung in there. New volunteers Lou, Caroline, Graeme and leaders Jill B, Phil S & Elizabeth also joined Dreamweaver. By the time we left Z Pier, the rain tap had been turned off and wind had dropped considerably. The team were met at the woolshed by Graeme, Lois, Jackie & Kevin.

We left Elizabeth, Grace and Shanaye pricking out pingao and spinifex whilst the rest of us headed out to clear tracks. Not only did the Downers group come with the right attire but more importantly the right attitude. Our calculation was that 950 metres of track were cleared - a new record for a session! Great team effort well rewarded with a barbecue lunch and a swim by some. Meanwhile out on Tieke Track Jackie and Kevin were doing much needed track maintenance. It was a highly productive day on Motuihe of which the team can be proud.

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Track clearing at Billy Goat Point (before and after) Lois Badham

The Downer team (Lois Badham)

Thursday 20th November - Corporate Volunteer Day

There’s a first for everything: the Dreamweaver was at max pax leaving pier Z on a sunny, calm, warm ‘summer’ day. We had volunteers from WSP, Hilbrand, Nokia and BDO.

Lois led a track clearing group to Snapper Bay/Billy Goat Point. Graeme and Simon headed with the rest down the Taraire bush track, spreading out either side of Taraire Bush. Suffice to say the outcome was good track clearance and some belting woolies no longer standing. It got hot. Plenty of good chat in the nursery over the lunch break and lots of time for swimming and generally enjoying the island.

Thanks to Graeme for cleaning all the tools at day end and my brother and sister-in-law who did a comprehensive Snapper Bay beach clean, while marvelling at what we have here. Splendid smooth trip home with Kirsty and crew looking after us, as ever. We got back to pier Z without a hitch and all volunteers were accounted for; back safe and sound.

Sunday 23rd November - Kakabeak Volunteer Day

It was another busy trip for the rare plants volunteers - the team divided and conquered to get tasks done across the island. An attack was made on the bindweed growing on the woolshed cliffs. This exotic weed has the potential to become very damaging to our new plantings and the wider bush on the island so lots of weeding at this time of year is essential. A second location of the vine near Ocean beach was also confirmed.

Teams worked hard in the nursery, sorting, pricking out and preparing for the next seeds we are expecting to arrive next month. The first of the kākābeak seeds were collected and we hope that this is just the beginning of a big crop. Plants around the island were checked and maintained and it is cheering to see some good growth. We also scouted the western coast of the island for potential planting sites for next winter – it is always a delight to visit quiet parts of Motuihe and see how well everything is regenerating. A final treat for the day was seeing two plants which have not been recorded on Motuihe before; an onion orchid (Microtis sp.) and a hedgehog grass (Echinopogon ovatus). The latter of these is a rare species and the former is a good indication of the soil and fungal communities on Motuihe doing well.

As always, a huge thank you to all our volunteers for their help with this project – we could not do it without you!

kaka