By PETER DE GRAAF CONSERVATIONTEN months of battling bureaucracy, packed public meetings and thousands of hours of volunteer labour at Kerikeri's Aroha Island will all pay off tomorrow. That's when the 12ha kiwi sanctuary - which came within a whisker of being turned into a commercial operation - reopens to the public. Theisland is perhaps the only place in New Zealand where you can camp among wild kiwi just 10 minutes' drive from an urban centre. It also has one of the few beaches close to Kerikeri. But public access was almost lost earlier this year when its owners, the QEII National Trust, decided it was losing too much money and put it up for commercial tender. That spurred a group of volunteers to band together as the Aroha Island Charitable Trust and negotiate a five-year lease of the island, with a five-year right of renewal. However, as of yesterday the QEII Trust was still stalling on signing the lease agreement. Aroha Island Charitable Trust chairwoman Ruth Marsh said the support the group had received from people all over Northland was fantastic. The reopening would be celebrated from 11am tomorrow, with former owner Colin Little, 94, as guest of honour. "Bring your picnic baskets along and relax by the beach with your families ... but remember, Aroha Island is a sanctuary for brown kiwi so leave your pets at home," Ms Marsh said. Trust member Rolf Mueller-Glodde said volunteers had put in a marathon effort to get the island's accommodation ready on time. The former manager's residence has been converted into a lodge, which the trust is counting on to provide the income needed to keep Aroha Island afloat. A cottage has been turned into a bunkroom for backpackers. A sewage treatment system has also been installed this week. Aroha Island is 12km from Kerikeri and linked to the mainland by a causeway. Follow the signs from the Waipapa Rd/Landing Rd roundabout. For more see www.aroha.net.nz; to book accommodation email kiwi@aroha.net.nz or call Lorenz Weller on (09) 407 5243.
