Our Story

The Motuihe Project was established in 2000 by community members working in partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC). What began as one woman’s vision has grown into one of the Hauraki Gulf’s most successful community-led restoration projects.

The Beginning

Ronnie Harrison and her partner Terry Gibbons were the concessionaires on Motuihe from 1984. From the first time she landed on Motuihe, Ronnie felt a strong spiritual connection with the island. She believed it was “something about the size and shape of the bays, and the feeling you get when walking around. Because it is so small it makes people want to care for it. If we care for the land it will care for us.”

Her vision for the future included farming on the island, building better visitor facilities, and a major replanting effort using volunteer labour. By 1993 Ronnie was growing native plants in planter bags and root trainers, first around the volunteer house and later around the Ranger’s house. Phillip MacDonald, Chief Ranger on neighbouring Motutapu Island, helped regularly with seeds, trays, and equipment. Ronnie asked members of the groups she catered for to plant a few trees while they were on the island.

At the time, Motuihe was largely open farmland — the island had been used as a dry stock farm as late as 2005. Her vision and determination over the 22 years she lived on the island led to the formation of the Motuihe Restoration Trust in 2000.

Forming the Trust

Towards the end of the 1990s Ronnie discussed with DOC the possibility of restoring the forest on the island. DOC were sceptical, feeling it was too far gone with pests and weeds. They suggested that the only way forward was to form a charitable trust and apply for grants.

Ronnie approached Michael Wood, a solicitor with a background in environmental restoration work in England. He agreed to help with the legal documents and is still working for the Trust today. Helen Lindsay, who had experience forming the Motuora Trust, also helped with the setup.

The Original Trustees

The original trustees were: Peter Whitmore (Chair, businessman), Ronnie Harrison, Terry Gibbons, Hariata Gordon (Ngāti Pāoa), Mike Lee (Auckland Councillor), Steven Jackson (NZ School of Outdoor Education), and Anne Fenn (Auckland Conservation Board). Michael Wood agreed to be Secretary. Tony Slark, the last naval surgeon on Motuihe, and his wife Eileen became regular volunteers and Tony agreed to become patron of the Trust.

The first meeting was held on the veranda of the kiosk on Friday 30 June 2000. Official registration was approved on 1 September 2000, with four aims: Land Management, Biodiversity, Public Facilities, and Education.

Terra Nature and DOC’s Decision

Another trust called “Terra Nature”, led by Graeme Woodhouse, was formed around the same time. DOC wanted the two groups to combine resources, but Terra Nature would not agree. In the end DOC decided on Ronnie’s trust because the people involved were local and had a genuine intention to restore the island.

The 2002 Fire

In 2002 a fire completely destroyed the kiosk and catering area that Ronnie and Terry had operated from, leaving only the large stainless steel bowls used for salads recognisable — these are still being used by volunteers in the Trust nursery today. In May 2002 the name was changed from “Motuihe Restoration Trust” to “Motuihe Trust” to avoid confusion with Motutapu when abbreviated to initials.

Pest Eradication

The biggest obstacle to restoration was the rabbits. Volunteers felt very discouraged when rabbits ate all the plants they had worked so hard to plant. Areas along the clifftops had eroded so much that visitors thought the land was shrinking — it was rabbits causing the cliff edges to fall away.

The island was surveyed using the MacLean’s scale: the east end scored a very high 8 out of 10. An attempt to control rabbits with Tree Pel failed — the rabbits were so hungry they ate the bark and the repellent. Ronnie made submissions to every authority she could but nothing was done.

Ronnie completed an 80-page Environmental Impact report and lodged it with the Auckland Regional Council. The resource consent was granted. In 2003, DOC actioned the pest eradication programme using Magtoxin and 1080 carrots. The island was closed for three months. Don Thompson, a trapper, was employed with his specially trained dog and eventually shot the last rabbit. Thirty-two cats were also destroyed. The whole eradication programme took 18 months. Pest-free status was finally achieved in late 2003, confirmed in 2004.

Building the Movement

In 2002 Ronnie sent a notice to all the boating clubs in Auckland asking if they would like to become involved in the restoration programme. The Outboard Boating Club (OBC) replied — and was the only club keen to get stuck in immediately.

John Laurence and the OBC

John Laurence, Secretary/Treasurer of the OBC, invited Ronnie and Peter Whitmore to present to OBC members in March 2002. John started attending Trust meetings in May 2002, was elected Trustee in August, and became Chairman in September 2002 — a role he held until 2019. He was successful in applying for grants: Sky City and the World Wildlife Fund funded the nursery, built with OBC volunteer labour. Mobil Oil and the OBC funded the tractor. John brought his nurseryman skills to Motuihe and soon had the nursery producing thousands of plants each year.

Academic Support

Professor John Craig of Auckland University was a strong supporter. His student Anne Stubbs completed her Master’s thesis on the effect of rats and mice on the Motuihe environment. In 2003, Shelley Heiss-Dunlop did core samples and identified pollen in the soil, providing data about what had been growing on the island pre-mankind. This became the basis for the restoration plan.

John Hawley, a landscape architect, produced a restoration plan in 2005 with an overall vision for the island. This plan is still being followed today.

Transition

In 2005 the last cattle were removed from the island. Ronnie and Terry left in 2007 following a settlement with DOC when their licence was not renewed. By 2004 the restoration programme was fully under way, with over 50,000 trees planted in some years.

What We’ve Achieved

Volunteers have planted hundreds of thousands of native trees. Translocated species now breeding on the island include little spotted kiwi, saddleback (tīeke), kakariki, bellbirds (korimako), whiteheads (pōpokotea), shore skinks, common gecko, Duvaucel’s gecko, tuatara, and wētāpunga.

By 2017 the forest on Motuihe was rising and in most places was over head height. Every year hundreds of volunteers make the trip to plant, weed, or propagate plants in the nursery.

How the Trust Works

The Motuihe Trust is an incorporated charitable trust with three subcommittees:

• Restoration — plants, animals, and ecological monitoring
• Recreation — visitors, education, and heritage
• Commercial — fundraising and commercial arrangements

Trustees meet monthly. The Trust is audited annually by KPMG. The Outboard Boating Club of Auckland provides base facilities for meetings and administration. Trustees liaise with iwi, the Department of Conservation, and other stakeholders.

Mission and Vision

“To restore, enhance and protect the indigenous flora and fauna and the significant Māori and historic sites of Motuihe Island in consultation with stakeholders. Members of the community will be provided with opportunities to participate in the restoration and maintenance of Motuihe Island.”

The vision is that Motuihe Island will be a natural environment of indigenous flora and fauna together with significant Māori and European historic sites, offering a quality recreational, environmental and educational experience. Visitors will be able to see native birds in their natural habitat, close to white sandy beaches, and learn about conservation issues and the heritage of the Hauraki Gulf.

Strategic Goals

The Motuihe Trustees approved Strategic Goals for 2021–2024, outlining priorities and projects across restoration, recreation, and commercial operations.

Key People

The Trust’s success is built on the dedication of many individuals. Interviews with people who made significant contributions in the early days are available:

• Ronnie Harrison — founder, concessionaire 1984–2007
• John Laurence — Chairman 2002–2019, nurseryman
• Michael Wood — solicitor, Trust Secretary
• Peter Whitmore — first Chair of the Trust
• Lois Badham — early supporter
• Julie Thomson — early supporter

“The recovery of the land of Te Motu a Ihenga is a testament to the energy and belief of ordinary people, that by working together, they can achieve a common goal. Vision and determination do not alone achieve success; it’s the help, support and co-operation of all.” — Ronnie Harrison

Key Documents

• Trust Formation Documents — original trust documents (pages 4–18)
• Vision and Goals — the Trust’s founding vision and goals
• The Second Trust — background on the competing Terra Nature trust
• Shelley Heiss-Dunlop Research — pollen analysis that informed the restoration plan
• Ronnie Harrison Interview — interviews from November 2016 and April 2017
• John Laurence Interview — interview with the Trust chairman
• Michael Wood Interview — interview with the Trust’s solicitor
• Peter Whitmore Interview — interview with the first chairman
• Lois Badham Interview — interview with an early supporter
• Julie Thomson Interview — interview with an early supporter