NZ’s looking for some good friends to turn islands into bird havens

New Zealand’s mission to protect its rare birdlife continues – and they need NZ$137m (A$123.4m) to establish more wildlife havens on outlying islands.

The NZ Government is joining forces with global conservation charities to eradicate invasive predators on three islands thereby creating a haven.

The Department of Conservation (DoC) and Island-Ocean Connection Challenge (IOCC) are targeting the sub-Antarctic islands of (Maori names given first) Maukahuka (Auckland), Rakiura (Stewart) and Chatham group (three islands in itself).

DOC Director-General Penny Nelson says joining with the IOCC will bring their work to the world stage.

“For millions of years, New Zealand’s native species evolved separately from the rest of the world. They’re unique, they’re only found here − once they’re gone from here, they’re gone from everywhere,” she says.

“These islands are precious remnants of a prehistoric world. Protecting and restoring them will make sure they become safe havens for iconic native species once more.

“We want to see the return of fields of chest-high flowering mega-herbs on Auckland Island, thriving colonies of diverse seabirds like taiko and albatross on the Chatham Islands and Stewart become a refuge for (the) kakapo.”

Nelson is hopeful their partnership with the IOCC will open the doors to international donors and bring in vital funding in what has been said to be the most challenging island conservation project in New Zealand.

(Just last month, one person donated $100,000 (A$90,000) to the Auckland Island project, adding to the $11.5m (A$10.36m) already raised for the group project.)

Penny Becker, CEO of Island Conservation, says they are “beyond excited” to welcome the restoration projects into a global portfolio of island ecosystems.

“By restoring these islands, we can make a tangible difference for biodiversity and oceans. Investing in these projects is an investment in the health and future of our planet,” she says.

MAORI PARTICIPATION

Signatory partners recently celebrated the launch of New Zealand’s partnership at Bluff, south of Dunedin, hosted by the Te Runaka o Awarua organisation.

Awarua Runaka spokesman Dean Whaanga said they were “delighted” to host the event which celebrates the entry of the three motu (islands) into the IOCC.

“Two of the islands – Rakiura/Stewart Island and Maukahuka/Auckland Island – are located within the Ngai Tahu (tribe) takiwa (territory) and our role as kaitiaki (guardians) of these motu is of immense significance to our whanau (people),” he says.

“Our success in restoring the small offshore islands surrounding Rakiura laid the pathway for the mahi (work) that needs to be done on Rakiura and Maukahuka,” Whaanga says.

The IOCC is led by international groups Island Conservation, Re:wild, and UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Their goal is to restore at least 40 globally significant island-ocean ecosystems around the world by 2030.

New Zealand has run over 110 successful island pest eradications to date and has set itself a national predator-free by 2050 goal.

THE THREE ISLANDS

Auckland Island: located 465km south of Bluff, it is a World Heritage Site and nature reserve. It’s a hub for breeding seabirds including four albatross species. The island wildlife (including over 100 unique species) is under threat from mice, pigs and feral cats. Planning is under way to eradicate the invasive mammals, estimated to cost $78m.
Stewart Island: New Zealand’s third largest island, it comprises of 90 per cent public conservation land (including a national park). Home to a tokoeka brown kiwi population, it’s surrounded by pest-free islands with thriving seabird populations. Work is under way to eradicate feral cats, rats, possums and hedgehogs from the island.
Chatham Islands: located 800km east of NZ, the islands is a haven for migrating albatross and 326 endangered species. The IOCC is continuing to remove cats and possums from Pitt Island and main Chatham island and restore the seabird ecosystem.