Natural features
Vegetation
Moturua Island is a scenic reserve with rapidly regenerating native forest. The dominant vegetation is manuka and kanuka which creates an ideal nursery for young shrubs and tree ferns. Young Pohutukawa thrive along the coastal fringe.
Wildlife
Pause a moment, look and listen. You may be lucky enough to see the North Island robin, which has been reintroduced to the island after becoming regionally extinct, also fantails, silver eyes, finches, sparrows, tuis, blackbirds and thrushes enjoying this more sheltered, moist area with its lusher habitat. 16 North Island robins (petroica australis longipes) / Toutouwai were released her in 1986, from the Mamaku Plateau in the central North Island. At last count, the population had grown to 30. The birds are concentrated in the south-eastern half of the island where the trees are tallest. Robins are confiding birds and will approach humans to feed in areas of litter disturbed by feet - so keep looking. They are about 18 cm tall and feed on stick insects, wetas, grubs, spiders and earthworms.
Another threatened species released here is the North Island brown kiwi. These kiwi were salvaged when their habitat was destroyed by forest clearance.
Contacts