Motutapu Island placed under rāhui over prolonged stoat invasion
A rāhui has been placed over Auckland’s Motutapu Island while authorities work to capture two elusive stoats.
The rāhui (ban) means access to the island in the Hauraki Gulf will be restricted and the campground closed for the next 30 days while the Department of Conservation (DOC) and the iwi Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki works to trap the stoats.
Ferry services to Rangitoto Island are unaffected by the rāhui.
Motutapu Island has now had four stoat outbreaks in one year. Stoats pose a significant risk to threatened native birds and lizards.
“We are asking people to take note of iwi rāhui and not to visit Motutapu while our first priority is catching the remaining stoats,” DOC incursion response advisor Claire Warren said.
Click 'read more' for our full report (video first published in July 2020).
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