Restoring our precious coastline.

Vision – Kauri & KiwI

“Imagine an Aotearoa New Zealand where it’s normal to hear the rustling and cries of a kiwi in your backyard every night”

Our Coastal Custodians envision a future where the Northwest Waiheke peninsula is totally revitalised showcasing its native flora and fauna in their original splendour. Our dream is to create an environment that everyone can cherish and enjoy.

This vision is rooted in a deep respect for the land’s history, from the stewardship of the tangata whenua, Ngati Paoa, through the era of early European settlement to the present-day community. Our mission is to embody this respect through collaborative efforts, bringing together residents, local communities, and the council in a united endeavour to rejuvenate the Matietie Historic Reserve and its surroundings.

We see the peninsula’s transformation as a beacon of success, exemplifying how resident, community, and council collaboration can contribute to New Zealand’s ambitious Predator Free 2050 goal. The reinvigorated peninsula will stand as a celebrated gateway to Waiheke, demonstrating the power of collective commitment to ecological restoration.

StrategY

Collaborative Restoration through Public-Private Partnerships

Our strategy focuses on enhancing the experience of Waiheke’s coastal walkways and easements, achieved through a synergistic approach to restoring flora and fauna, complemented by a robust pest and weed eradication program.

This program is proudly supported by the Ngati Paoa Iwi Trust, Auckland Council, Te Korowai o Waiheke, and the Waiheke Marine Project. Funding is sourced through the generous contributions of residents and grants, administered by the Hauraki Gulf Conservation Trust.

A dedicated leadership team oversees the program’s overall direction, with specialised subcommittees responsible for targeted weed and vermin control. These subcommittees work closely with expert contractors to ensure effective and sustainable eradication efforts.

Through this strategic approach, Coastal Custodians aims to not only protect and enhance our natural heritage but also to foster a sense of unity and purpose within the community, as we work together towards a shared vision of ecological restoration and preservation.

Goal

Our goal is the complete restoration and revitalisation of the entire North West Peninsular including the DOC Matietie Historic Reserve that serves as a public gateway to Waiheke Island. Our team of 100% committed residents leads an inspirational vermin control program and now the same passionate support is being committed to the total eradication of weeds. This program will allow the million-plus native trees planted in 1996 on the motu to flourish, further encouraging the already significant increase in bird life and be a legacy for future generations of the community to enjoy forever.

Image: DOC

Planting & Regeneration

PEST & WEED CONTROL

WILDLIFE RENEWAL

TREES PLANTED

PROJECT YEARS

NATIVE BIRD SPECIES RETURNED

Regeneration

Planting and run-off reduction

Just 24 plus years ago, much of the north-western Waiheke coast was largely erosion-prone farmland with little forest coverage and sparse bird life. Combined community efforts, beginning with the vision of Landscape Architects (Dennis Scott & Associates), Developers, Council and DOC and now maintained by so many passionate residents supported by our hapori whanau (wider community) we are on a fifty-plus year journey to restoring native bush cover, reducing sediment runoff to the Hauraki Gulf and returning birdlife for all to enjoy.

Pest control

Controlling stoats, rats and rabbits

Our ground control programmes whilst still in their infancy are already working to suppress pest populations including rates, stoats, rabbits and hedgehogs. Traps, bait stations and professional rabbit shooters are all part of the program to eradicate pests and vermin from destroying fledgling flora and birdlife.

Weed eradication

Stamping out noxious weeds

The North-Western Waiheke coastline is an entry point for noxious weeds on the island and given the predominant southwesterly winds, it is crucial controls are in place to minimise the likes of tobacco weed and moth plants to avoid becoming a nursery for seeding weed spread across the motu.
Coastal Custodian leaders are working with other organisations such as the Local Council, DOC and Te Korowai to develop sophisticated community-supported weed eradication programs as a special private-public partnership for the entire peninsula including DOC, Council and private zones.

“We are seeing flourishing native bird life returning to Waiheke as we work towards our goal of creating a bird corridor from Tiritiri to the north-western coastline of Waiheke.”

Read about our vision