Activities Descriptions

1. WALK: Chris Green - Entomological - interpretive walk, invertebrate interactions

Honorary Research Fellow, DOC Auckland. Gain insight into the insects and other invertebrates of the motu, their lives and their habitats. Chris will share his knowledge and experience on an interactive walk from the wharf to the Visitor Centre.

 Morning 23 August 

2. WALK: John Stewart - LUV trip seabirds and seabirds and foreshore tour

During this tour you will experience:

•  A visit to the diving petrel colony at the north end of the island

•  A visit and discussion about the penguin nest box study

•  Discussion about the eight seabird species regularly nesting on the island

•  Our hopes for the future for seabirds

This is limited to 10 people. Names will be drawn by lottery on Thursday prior to each event. Make sure you have a second choice activity registered in case you miss out.

 Morning 23 August    Morning 12 September 

3. WALK: Reptile team walk - Herpetofauna

Guided walk and discussion on the reptile species found on Tiritiri Matangi, past and present, and their management. The walk follows the first part of the cross island track to Fisherman’s Bay where we hope to show you some of our reclusive herpetofauna. We'll chat about the 7 species of reptile (3 Gecko species, 3 skink species, and of course the fabulous tuatara) that call Tiritiri Matangi home. Bring your herpetological questions.

 Morning 23 August    Morning 12 September 

4. WALK: Natalie Spyksma - flora update

Natalie will help you deepen your knowledge of the flora of the motu on this fascinating walk. Natalie often contributes flora information to GuideLines. She is also an experienced guide on the motu.

This is limited to 8 people. Names will be drawn by lottery on Thursday before the event. Make sure you have a second choice activity registered in case you miss out.

 Morning 23 August 

5. WORKSHOP: Moana Tamaariki-Pohe - Poutairangahau DoC; and Donna Tamaariki - Director Kaitiaki Enterprises

Moana and Donna have run workshops with our Board and staff to help us deepen our knowledge and understanding of original Māori arrival in Aotearoa, te ao Māori (the Māori worldview), Māori values, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and particularly how all of these factors relate to our presence on the motu. They have also helped the Board review and fine tune SoTM’s strategic plan to be more inclusive of and reflective of Te Ao Māori.

Moana and Donna will help you understand the values important in te ao Māori and learn how we can acknowledge and respect those values and Māori history on Tiritiri Matangi in our guiding on the motu. Gain insight into tikanga Māori (procedures, protocols and practices). There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions around tangata whenua and mana whenua on Tiritiri Matanngi motu.

Learn the correct pronunciation of the motu’s flora and fauna in te reo to enable you to be a good role model for our visitors.

 Morning 23 August 

6. WORKSHOP: Carl Hayson - Deepen your understanding of the island’s maritime history

Visit the museum, watch tower, foghorn and possibly the lighthouse. And learn about the maritime history of the island so you can accurately inform visitors in your guiding groups and encourage them to visit these facilities when they are open.

 Morning 23 August    Afternoon 23 August 

 Morning 12 September    Afternoon 12 September 

7. WORKSHOP: Kay Milton - Nest boxes - the whys, whose and the wherefores of nest boxes

There are hundreds of nestboxes lurking in the bush on Tiritiri Matangi. They are often noticed by guides and visitors, and no doubt raise their curiosity. Why are they there? Why are there different shapes and styles? Who uses them and what can we learn from them? In this workshop we shall address these questions and show how nest boxes can give us a better understanding of what our birds (and some of our non-birds) are up to.

 Afternoon 23 August    Morning 12 September 

8. WORKSHOP: Morag Fordham and Kay Milton - An insight into the world of kōkako from the kokako monitoring team

Morag and Kay have long-term involvement with kōkako on the motu and know the family histories of many of the manu. Get the lowdown on who’s with whom and how it’s working out with our large kōkako population. The family dynamics can be a bit like a soap opera! They will give you a hands-on description of the success of the monitoring programme and why it is important to the motu.

 Morning 23 August    Afternoon 12 September 

9. WALK: Wisdom walks with senior guides

Walk from the VC down to the wharf with a senior guide in a group sharing wisdom collecting stories and anecdotes along the way.

 Afternoon 23 August    Afternoon 12 September 

10. WALK: Mary-Ann Rowland & Sonya Galbraith - Walking history of Tiritiri Matangi. 

A time to gather stories from two of our long-standing 'advocates' on Tiritiri Matangi. Stories are what our visitors remember and what inspires them.

Mary-Ann and Sonya have spent time with the two original scientists whose ideas inspired the entire ecological restoration project. From our website: “The re-planting and introduction of wildlife onto the island was first conceived in 1974 by two scientists working at Auckland University – John Craig (zoologist) and Neil Mitchell (botanist), who received funding from WWF to set up the nursery. Their vision was one of an ‘open sanctuary’ that placed people at the heart of the project, by allowing the public to be involved in the creation and evolution of this sanctuary.”

This walk is strictly limited to 10 people.

 Afternoon 23 August 

11. WALK: Neil Davies – Flora walk - fascinating ferns of Tiritiri Matangi

Neil will lead you on a fascinating foray in search of ferns you never knew existed on the motu. You can tap into the knowledge of one of our most experienced guides during this walk. Hear his stories from the past as you spot those elusive ferns.

 Afternoon 23 August    Morning 12 September 

12. WALK: Photography walk – with guide Eva Cadario

Ever wish you could spend more time on the Island taking photos of our flora and fauna? Bring your camera kit and join one of our most prolific photographers, Eva APSNZ for an afternoon of capturing those fleeting magical moments in a supportive group.

 Afternoon 12 September 

13. WORKSHOP: 3 Steps for Life with Hato Hone (St John) – Stephen Robinson & colleague

3 Steps for Life is a one-hour CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) education programme and is designed to give all New Zealanders the confidence and awareness to act when someone suffers an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Increase your confidence and competence about responding in an emergency on the motu and elsewhere. This is a hands-on experience with AED’s. We’ll also follow this up with general conversations about responding to medical emergencies on the motu. Plenty of time to ask questions and build your knowledge and confidence.

 Morning 23 August    Afternoon 12 September 

14. WORKSHOP: John Stewart - the bird feeding survey and phenology surveys.

After three years, the bird feeding survey is showing some interesting results. But we need many more records over several years to begin to understand what food is taken and when and how that might impact on our birds. A phenology study on the timing of flowering and fruiting of our trees is operating and volunteer recorders are needed for it. John will show how to use the recording phone app and is hoping to recruit more guides to help with the study.

Being involved in the phenology study is a different and interesting opportunity to develop your knowledge of the island flora and fauna.

 Afternoon 23 August    Afternoon 12 September 

15. WORKSHOP: Herpetofauna Workshop by the Reptile team

•  Reptile monitoring – gain an overview of what, and how, we monitor the reptile populations on Tiritiri Matangi and estimate their population and spread. See evidence of reptile existence, including photo identification of our recently released Auckland Green Gecko (N. elegans), and also explore some of the new techniques coming to help in monitoring.

•  Tuatara surveys – how our intrepid team seek them out to check on their health and numbers. Learn about our findings from the 2023 survey completed just 20 years after tuatara were first released on Tiritiri Matangi.

Find out about other reptile survey work we are doing on the island now and in the next few years and how you might be involved.

Bring your herpetological questions

 Afternoon 23 August    Afternoon 12 September 

16. WORKSHOP: Chris Green - Honorary Research Fellow, DOC Auckland.

Focus on wētāpunga, following on from his morning interpretive walk, attend this workshop to learn more about insects and invertebrates on the motu.

 Afternoon 23 August 

17. WALK: Karin Gouldstone – the secret lives of wētāpunga

Take a walk with our enthusiastic wētāpunga spotter and learn more about this fascinating ancient creature.

Learn some secrets about how to find them so you can spot these beauties for your guiding groups.

 Afternoon 12 September 

18. WORKSHOP: Dave Towns, conservation biologist, Emeritus Professor AUT.

Dave has a long career with NZ Wildlife Service and DOC as a conservation scientist. He is the author of the book Ahuahu, which uses the Mercury Islands as central characters in an engaging account of progress in understanding New Zealand biodiversity and improving ways to protect it. The book is available in our shop on the motu.

Dave’s workshop is about measuring progress with ecological restoration.

 Morning 23 August 

19. WALK: Dave Towns, conservation biologist, Emeritus Professor AUT.

Dave will lead an island eco-system walk returning to the ferry in the afternoon.

 Afternoon 23 August 

20. WORKSHOP: Cathy Catto – Guiding families with children

As a lifetime educator of young children, Cathy has some great tips and techniques that can help to keep children and families engaged during guided walks. You’ll learn what to do so you and the family group have a great time. You will have a chance to put into practice the advice that she provides.

NOTE: This is not school guiding. It is about guiding public families with children.

 Morning 12 September 

21. WORKSHOP: Bob Bicker - How clever is nature

•  Asking people to respect nature is one thing, showing them why is another. Nature got there first - from where lies most of the answers we seek.

•  We can apply lessons from nature to solve human problems.

•  How Leonardo DaVinci gave humans the first measurable index of biomimicry.

•  When we destroy nature, we destroy our very own foundation

•  Zoopharmacology the study of how animals actively select and consume plants, insects or soils to self-medicate and treat ailments.

 Afternoon 23 August    Afternoon 12 September 

22. WORKSHOP: Colin Christie - DOC dog handler - an insight into the work and training of conservation dogs

 Morning 23 August    Morning 12 September 

23. WORKSHOP: Sahrah Mai - He Tangata - it is people. How to prepare yourself to guide people in your group, manage expectations, mitigate issues, and create group bonding before you set off on your walk. This workshop will help you establish a great start to your guiding each day.

This workshop is especially valuable for newish guides, and for experienced guides looking to sharpen up their start of day routines with groups.

 Morning 12 September 

24. WORKSHOP: Janet Petricevich - An insight into banding of birds on the motu

Janet will provide you with information about which birds are banded on the motu and why banding is done. Find out how the teams go about catching the birds, putting the bands on, which bands are used, how to read the bands - generally all you need to know to help visitors understand banding.

 Morning 23 August    Morning 12 September 

25. WALK: Simon Fordham - Titipounamu (rifleman) programme update

Simon will lead a walk in search of the elusive tītipounamu (rifleman) along the Kawerau track and will be sharing some guiding stories along the way.

 Morning 12 September 

26. WORKSHOP: Simon Fordham - Titipounamu (rifleman) programme update

Join Simon and find out what the tītipounamu programme involves and what has been achieved over the life of the programme.

 Afternoon 12 September