Bill Carlin: Plenty being done to improve gulf islands

COMMENT

Kerry Howe was one of many thousands of Aucklanders who this summer visited a conservation island in the inner Hauraki Gulf.

He reached Motuihe by sea-kayak because, as he noted in his Dialogue article, there is no daily ferry service to the island.

But this lack of passenger service and the "abandoned wilderness" he observed on Motuihe is not, as he suggests, part of a Department of Conservation policy to keep visitors away from the recreation islands of the gulf.

On the contrary, the department's policy is to encourage and help the public to enjoy and appreciate the areas it manages. The island reserves of the gulf are no exception.

The absence of daily ferry trips to Motuihe is a commercial decision over which the department has no control.

Access to Motuihe can be gained only by private boat, although Fullers do take passengers to and from the island on their twice-weekly trip to Rakino on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. This makes weekend camping trips possible.

However, plans to restore and to develop the island as a visitor destination may create the demand for a day-trip ferry service.

Motuihe is a popular island getaway. With its proximity to Auckland, all-weather anchorages and easy landing beaches, it attracts more than 45,000 visitors a year.

The department, in partnership with the Motuihe Trust, has plans to restore natural habitats on the island, provide onsite information about its history and heritage sites and develop visitor amenities.

New information signs are due to be installed soon.

The Motuihe Trust has a vision of creating a natural paradise of native trees and birds easily accessible to visitors, via the Motuihe Project (see www.motuihe.org.nz). Volunteers set up a native-tree nursery on the island last year and have 25,000 trees for planting this autumn and winter. The trust is calling for individuals, groups, schools and companies to help to realise this vision.

Last year, DoC removed from the island most of the rabbits which for decades were responsible for the manicured landscape. Once the rabbits are eradicated (in the next few months), Motuihe will become another pest-free haven, opening possibilities for replanting and the reintroduction of native birds, insects and reptiles.

When Professor Howe pitched his tent amid "waist-high weeds", he wasn't in the island's camping area, which is located up the hill from the wharf and has a water supply. Had he booked ahead with the concessionaire who manages the campsite, he would have been given directions and had his camp fees collected.

As for the state of the toilets, the concessionaire admits they do sometimes smell with heavy use in warm weather. They apologise for this.

Professor Howe also expressed concern about access to Motutapu, another island recreational reserve. He questioned the "no bikes" rule and difficulties getting to the "marvellous" department camping ground at Home Bay.

The department's policy is not to allow mountain bikes on Rangitoto and Motutapu islands. Mountain biking has been tested on these islands but problems with bikers riding off-track into sensitive areas and conflict with walkers on narrow tracks occurred.

A DoC recreational opportunities review in progress gives the public a chance to have its say about facilities for recreation on conservation land, including these islands (submissions close at the end of the month).

The review of Auckland's conservation management strategy, starting some time next year, will be another opportunity.

Access to Motutapu is by private boat or Fullers ferry to Rangitoto wharf, from where visitors can walk across the causeway to Motutapu (on Fridays and Sundays the ferry calls at Islington Bay wharf, which is closer to Motutapu).

The Motutapu Island Restoration Trust has ambitious plans to restore the wharf at Home Bay and to develop a network of tracks on the island. The Newmarket Rotary Club is contributing to track development, which will begin this year (see www.motutapu.org.nz).

It is department policy not to provide transport for the public. But it does assist groups working for conservation on lands it manages.

The Motutapu Island Restoration Trust, the Motutapu Outdoor Education Camp and the Rangitoto Island Historic Conservation Trust make use of department vehicles on the islands from time to time.

The restoration and development of visitor facilities on both Motutapu and Motuihe should attract more visitors. It may also create the commercial opportunity for the resumption of a day-trip ferry service.

And this would enable more people to enjoy these beautiful islands on the doorstep of Auckland City.

* Bill Carlin, acting conservator for the Department of Conservation's Auckland conservancy, is responding to Kerry Howe's view that the department should do more for visitors to the Hauraki Gulf.