Northern Advocate
  • Northern Advocate home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Property
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings

Locations

  • Far North
  • Kaitaia
  • Kaikohe
  • Bay of Islands
  • Whangārei
  • Kaipara
  • Mangawhai
  • Dargaville

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whangārei
  • Dargaville

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Northern Advocate

First oi chick in memory hatches on Matakohe-Limestone Island

Northern Advocate
4 Sep, 2018 07:00 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
The island's first oi chick in living memory.

The island's first oi chick in living memory.

The first oi — or grey-faced petrel — chick to hatch on Matakohe-Limestone Island in living memory was discovered on Father's Day.

Fifteen years in the making, the one little chick found on Sunday is a huge milestone for the Whangārei Harbour restoration island. The discovery marks the first time a translocated parent pair has bred on the island, resident ranger Emma Craig said.

"I was checking the trail camera that we have trained on the nest burrow entrance,'' she said.

Fred Tito and a young conservationist take a sneak peek at the oi chick
Fred Tito and a young conservationist take a sneak peek at the oi chick
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I decided to have a wee peek in the burrow while I was there as I knew the egg was due to hatch soon. I was speechless when I saw the little fluff ball cuddled up next to dad.

''I felt beyond thrilled, and absolutely honoured to be present when this massive milestone was achieved. Seeing this obviously diligent and committed first-time dad with his precious chick on Father's Day was extra special."

Although not endangered, oi are an important component in the island's restoration as they deposit rich ocean nutrients in guano and are exceptional excavators.

Other creatures Craig has encountered inhabiting the oi burrows include the large native centipede, native lizards, various types of weta and quite a few kiwi.

In 2004 the first of seven translocations of juvenile oi/grey-faced petrels was made from Taranga (Hen Island) off Bream Bay.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

After setting off on their long spell at sea which can last seven years, oi have been returning to Matakohe-Limestone Island since 2010 but none has bred. Two previous attempts failed at the egg stage.

Fred Tito, of local hapu Te Parawhau, and others travelled to the island on Monday to bless and name the first chick to hatch on the island in living memory.

''The very first kiwi hatched on the island was given the name Ahi Kaa, so it was fitting that this new oi chick was bestowed with the name Ahi Kaa Tuarua as part of the ritual and blessing,'' Tito said.

Once chicks fledge they go to sea for around seven years before returning to breed themselves.

Discover more

Opinion: Dumping of waste into stream unacceptable

04 Sep 07:00 PM

Northland's big start-up competition kicks off

05 Sep 03:00 AM

Bream Head snaps illustrate fundraising calendar

11 Sep 10:00 PM

At Whangārei Heads, which is overseen by Bream Head Conservation Trust, oi have voluntarily returned to burrows on cliffs after being absent for 50 years.

Save
    Share this article

Latest from Northern Advocate

Northern Advocate

The inspiring lives behind this year's Civic Honours recipients

Northern Advocate

'My children were washed away, one by one': Captain of the Capitaine Bougainville recalls the tragedy 50 years on

Opinion

Opinion: Gambling with the future of sport and recreation clubs


Sponsored

NZ’s convenience icon turns 35

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Northern Advocate

The inspiring lives behind this year's Civic Honours recipients
Northern Advocate

The inspiring lives behind this year's Civic Honours recipients

Alan Bayly, Harry Carter, Bett Harvey and Darrell Trigg are this year's recipients.

05 Sep 11:00 PM
'My children were washed away, one by one': Captain of the Capitaine Bougainville recalls the tragedy 50 years on
Northern Advocate

'My children were washed away, one by one': Captain of the Capitaine Bougainville recalls the tragedy 50 years on

05 Sep 05:00 PM
Opinion: Gambling with the future of sport and recreation clubs
Opinion

Opinion: Gambling with the future of sport and recreation clubs

05 Sep 04:50 PM


NZ’s convenience icon turns 35
Sponsored

NZ’s convenience icon turns 35

02 Sep 09:23 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • The Northern Advocate e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Northern Advocate
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The Northern Advocate
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP