Tiritiri Matangi Island

25/10/2026

What harakeke tells us about native fauna...
One of Aotearoa's iconic plants, harakeke aka New Zealand flax, is abundant on Tiritiri Matangi Island. While many visitors get to witness birds feeding on the plant's flower buds and nectar, few notice that the leaves, too, serve as a source of food:
The larvae of two different native species of moth nibble the leaves in distinct patterns. The flax notcher moth - also called “notcher” - chews out notches at the edge of the leaf. The flax looper window moth, or “windower” for short, feeds on the surface tissue of the underside of leaves, leaving a thin layer of fibre akin to a window; as the leaf ages, these exposed fibres often break down, leaving a hole.
While weavers who collect harakeke for raranga (traditional weaving practice) are understandably not impressed by such damage, we like to celebrate it as a sign of a thriving eco system.
You can book your ferry ticket to Tiritiri Matangi and perhaps a guided walk here:
https://www.exploregroup.co.nz/.../tiritiri-matangi-island/
Text ref: https://tinyurl.com/49safh4c
Photo credits: Eva Cadario .camera

20/10/2026

A perfect partnership…
Watch as this tūī slips its curved bill into each harakeke/ New Zealand flax flower, reaching for the sweet nectar within. The shape of its bill is remarkably well matched to the flower, allowing it to feed while brushing against the flower’s reproductive structures.
But nectar isn’t the only reward for nectar feeders that also forage for invertebrates among the flowers, adding another source of food to their diet.
This relationship is not one way. though. As the tūī feeds, pollen dusts its head and bill. When it visits another flower, some of that pollen may be transferred to the flower’s stigma and pollinates the flower.
A beautiful example of the synergistic relationships between Aotearoa’s native plants and wildlife, where a meal for one becomes an opportunity for the other.
You can book your ferry ticket to Tiritiri Matangi and perhaps a guided walk here:
https://www.exploregroup.co.nz/.../tiritiri-matangi-island/
Video credit: Jonathan Mower

15/10/2026

A sweet treat among the fronds …
A moment captured as a female hihi/ stitchbird feeds from the flowers of a nīkau palm. Although nīkau blossoms are primarily insect-pollinated, birds may also contribute to their pollination. As this hihi probes the flowers for nectar or hidden invertebrates, pollen may cling to her feathers and potentially be transferred to other flowers.
Two of Aotearoa/ New Zealand’s precious endemic species, sharing a moment that reminds us of the intricate ecological connections between our native birds and plants.
You can book your ferry ticket to Tiritiri Matangi and perhaps a guided walk here:
https://www.exploregroup.co.nz/.../tiritiri-matangi-island/
Photo credits: Eva Cadario .camera
Team Hihi

11/10/2026

The secretive watcher ...
Sitting near the water's edge, a slinking movement and rustle of dry leaves gave away the location of this mātātā/ fern bird, sitting a few metres away from me.
These are small, songbirds whose plumage helps them disappear into the tangled vegetation they commonly call home. Warm-brown upperparts and paler underparts are patterned with fine brown streaks and spots, while brown eyes and a pale supercilium (the stripe above the eye) break up the outline of the head. Together, these help the fernbird blend into the dappled light and shadows of its surroundings.
Appearing ragged and frayed, the fernbird’s long, loosely barbed tail is very distinctive. Lacking a strong outline, its feathers resemble to fern fronds or dried leaves, providing camouflage and allowing the bird to manoeuvre through dense, tangled vegetation.
This is a bird that is more at home scrambling through plants than flying above them, making them very difficult to spot unless they make themselves known. Sometimes, the best way to observe them is to stop, wait and let the vegetation reveal its secrets.
Video credit: Jonathan Mower

09/10/2026

A bird’s-eye view…

A view afforded to few visitors to Tiritiri Matangi Island, this photo was taken from a commercial passenger plane flying out of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. It shows just how close the Island is to the mainland, and yet how much it seems a world away.

A mere four kilometres of open water separate Tiritiri Matangi from the peninsula occupied by the now mammalian predator proofed Shakespear Regional Park. This stretch of water acts as a “moat”, with strong currents that make it difficult for mammalian pests to reach the Island.

Few of the bird species translocated to Tiritiri Matangi manage to cross to the mainland, as many are poor flyers, evolution having made flight optional for some of these species. Camouflage colours and the ability to stay still were effective enough defences before mammalian predators such as humans, rats, stoats, possums and cats were introduced to Aotearoa New Zealand.

Next time you’re flying north, ask for a window seat and see if you can spot the jewel in the crown of conservation that is Tiritiri Matangi. Or why not explore the Island close-up by booking a ferry ticket and perhaps a guided walk along one of the island's tracks.
Photo credits: Eva Cadario .camera

06/10/2026

06/10/2026

A master of camouflage — and of making a quick getaway.
The beautifully mottled skin of this Duvaucel’s gecko helps it disappear among the leaf litter and forest floor. But camouflage is not its only defence. If seized by a predator, it can shed its tail through a remarkable process called caudal autotomy. Rather than separating between vertebrae, a specialised fracture plane within a vertebra allows a vertebra itself to split, releasing the tail while minimising damage to the remaining stump.
The sacrificed tail contains valuable fat reserves, so once danger has passed, the gecko may return to eat it once danger has passed.
Like all geckos, it periodically sheds its outer layer of skin as it grows, replacing the old epidermis with a new one and removing ectoparasites in the process. The discarded skin is sometimes eaten, recycling some of the nutrients it contains.
Camouflage, self-amputation and recycling, the evolutionary survival toolkit for a forest dwelling reptile.
You can book your ferry ticket and perhaps a guided walk here:
https://www.exploregroup.co.nz/.../tiritiri-matangi-island/
Photo Credit: Jonathan Mower

04/10/2026

The golden sign-post …
Near the top of Wattle Track, a number of small shrubs are covered in masses of golden flowers, a beautiful seasonal tohu* that Spring has arrived and the island’s kūmarahou are flowering.
Kūmarahou (Pomaderris kumeraho) has also been known as gum diggers’ soap. Gum diggers would crush the leaves and flowers to make a natural lather, thanks to their containing saponins, natural soap-like compounds.
You can book your ferry ticket to Tiritiri Matangi and perhaps a guided walk here:
https://www.exploregroup.co.nz/.../tiritiri-matangi-island/
Photo credits: Eva Cadario .camera
*sign/mark/signal