Matakohe Limestone Island

Matakohe Limestone Island Matakohe-Limestone Island is a wildlife sanctuary and open access Scenic Reserve that is being resto

Open for everyone to enjoy, and just a boat ride from Whangarei city or a short paddle from the suburb of Onerahi, community input has transformed Matakohe-Limestone Island from degraded pasture into a regenerating forest habitat – 155,000 trees planted and counting. Mammalian predators have been eradicated from the island, meaning this ‘new’ forest is now a safe home for a growing variety of thre

atened native fauna that have been re-introduced, including kiwi, banded rail, New Zealand dotterel, moko skink and forest gecko. The island is also the site of Matakohe pa and once extensive kumara gardens, as well as the impressive ruins of one of Whangarei's earliest industrial sites - the Limestone Island cement works, founded in 1856. Restoration efforts are coordinated by members of the community, the Friends of Matakohe–Limestone Island Society (FOMLI), in partnership with Whangarei District Council, made possible thanks to the support of numerous partners and sponsors such as Golden Bay Cement.

Earlier this week Matakohe Limestone Island received 450 wētāpunga from Ngāti Manuhiri, reared at Butterfly Creek. Te Pa...
07/05/2026

Earlier this week Matakohe Limestone Island received 450 wētāpunga from Ngāti Manuhiri, reared at Butterfly Creek. Te Parawhau welcomed the new arrivals to the island which was followed by a quick show and tell by staff from Butterfly Creek. Following that they were released at three locations on the island using bamboo tubes cable tied to trees.

Wētāpunga are nocturnal and can weigh up to 35 grams! That’s heavier than your average house sparrow. They like to feed on leaves of karaka, karamu, māmāngi, māhoe, and kohekohe.

If you are visiting the island during the day, keep an eye out for them in drooping dead fronds of tree ferns, nīkau palms or cabbage trees.

Photo credit: Wendy Bown

20/03/2026

Great news: new date: Monday March 23rd, 11am.
Come along and welcome three kiwi back to the mainland as they graduate from the Matakohe Limestone Island kwi creche.
Be part of their special whakawaatea ceremony, led by Te Parawhau kaumatua Fred Tito.
This is your chance to meet wild kiwi up close, learn how you can help keep them safe and understand more about these unique birds.
All welcome to be part of this special event, but no dogs please.
Kiwi Coast is proud to collaborate with Te Parawhau, Ngati Hine, Friends of Matakohe Limestone Island, the Department of Conservation and Northland Regional Council for this special event. We are also extremely grateful to Foundation North for the funding that helps make it all possible.
More event info here: https://kiwicoast.org.nz/events/kiwi-whakawaatea/
Photo: Moturoa the kiwi at her release, 2024. Credit: Dean Wright

Te Parawhau, Te Uriroroi, Ngati Kahu o Torongare

15/03/2026

Event postponed due to a tangi. New event details to follow later in the week....

Following the meeting, FOMLI member, and expert photographer, Michelle Martin, has kindly agreed to give a brief present...
25/02/2026

Following the meeting, FOMLI member, and expert photographer, Michelle Martin, has kindly agreed to give a brief presentation of her work during her recent visit to the Falkland Islands.

Our grey-faced petrel ōi chick successfully fledged and left the nest on the 17th of January this year. This was just be...
27/01/2026

Our grey-faced petrel ōi chick successfully fledged and left the nest on the 17th of January this year. This was just before the storm we had come in, so a bit of a rough start for the poor guy! Hopefully he's doing okay and enjoying this calmer weather.

A BIG THANK YOU to Bunnings Warehouse Whangārei for supplying the island with new tools that we can now use to replace s...
09/12/2025

A BIG THANK YOU to Bunnings Warehouse Whangārei for supplying the island with new tools that we can now use to replace some of our more well-used hardware. They will go towards helping both the ranger and the volunteers working on the island!

24/11/2025

After initially suggesting feral cats stay out of the Predator Free plan, the government has done a U-turn, announcing they are now a target.

Our ōi grey faced petrel chick is growing nicely! After the disaster last year with losing both the male and egg we are ...
06/11/2025

Our ōi grey faced petrel chick is growing nicely! After the disaster last year with losing both the male and egg we are happy that the remaining female seems to have re-paired with another male. The chick will be due to leave around new years 😊

You can find all sorts of cool things on the coast of Matakohe Island! Here are a few highlights from a previous walk.
30/08/2025

You can find all sorts of cool things on the coast of Matakohe Island! Here are a few highlights from a previous walk.

A huge THANK YOU to the Whangarei District Council!We are incredibly grateful for their continued support through fundin...
28/08/2025

A huge THANK YOU to the Whangarei District Council!

We are incredibly grateful for their continued support through funding from the District Amenities Fund. This invaluable contribution allows us to protect and conserve the native species on Matakohe Limestone Island, provide enriching educational experiences for schools, preserve our island's historic treasures, and ensure the island remains a safe and welcoming place for all to enjoy.

The support we receive from the Whangarei District Council plays a key role in the ongoing success of our work, and we truly appreciate their commitment to the island's future.

Address

Whangarei

Telephone

(09) 4360923

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Matakohe Limestone Island posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Matakohe Limestone Island:

Shortcuts

Share