Motuihe Trust

The vision for the Motuihe Trust is that Motuihe Island will be a natural environment of indigenous flora and fauna together with identified significant historic sites, offering a quality recreational, environmental and educational experience to visitors

Visitors to the island will be able to see native birds in their native habitat, close to the white sandy beaches. Visitors will be encouraged to walk around the island and learn about conservation of the Hauraki Gulf.

Motuihe has held a special place in the lives of generations of Aucklanders. Its stunning beaches and sheltered bays, set in a rural context only 15km from downtown Auckland, has made it a popular day trip for private boat owners and visitors arriving by ferry.

In the past, the easily accessible and heavily modified inner islands of the Hauraki Gulf in public ownership have been classified as ‘recreation islands’ whereas the outer islands, which have retained a greater proportion of their natural values, have been seen primarily as ‘conservation islands’.

Tiritiri Matangi
The significant advances made in eradicating pests from large islands have potentially made all islands a focus for restoration. Tiritiri Matangi has demonstrated just what can be achieved with vision and dedicated volunteers. Its success has inspired other community groups and there are now restoration projects on a number of the Gulf’s islands, including Motutapu, Motuora and Kawau.

Motuihe Trust
The Motuihe Trust was formed in the year 2000 by a group of people with links to organisations in the Auckland Region involved in environmental education, outdoor recreational pursuits, boating, and conservation.

Its mission is to:

“… restore, enhance and protect the indigenous flora and fauna and the significant Maori 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 Trust will promote the island as a visitor destination for interpreted conservation, heritage and educational experience, and will undertake commercial arrangements on the Island, which support the Trust vision, to ensure the ongoing financial viability of the island.”

Motuihe will continue to be a recreation reserve administered by the Department of Conservation for all New Zealanders. However, it is anticipated that the enthusiastic involvement of the Motuihe Trust in partnership with the Department of Conservation, iwi and the wider community, will enhance the traditional recreational appeal of Motuihe whilst restoring its biodiversity and bringing its cultural and historical heritage to life.