Out of Scope
Power System
As Board members saw at our noho, the Island’s power system has essentially
reached the end of its road and we have brought forward the planned replacement.
This is part of a programme also upgrading power systems on Mana and Kāpiti
Islands, which have similarly reached the end of their lives.
Phase 1 of the replacement, involving around 2/3 of the work, was completed by
Easter weekend and then reopened to overnighters. Phase 2 is scheduled for May,
and involves further work on the generator and wind turbine.
Spatial Plan
As the Board has seen, s9(2)(a)
and his Thrive team are underway with their
Spatial Plan process, and the suggested target date for completion is the end of
July 2026.
Cook Strait Giant Wētā (CSGW) Population Survey
A survey of CSGW has been completed. 62 CSGW were translocated to Matiu
Somes in 1996 for species conservation and to as part of the ecological restoration
of the island. Subsequent surveys had confirmed the population has spread from
the release site at the northern end of the island to throughout the island.
Traps were set out at three locations over 4 nights, but only four CSGW were
detected. Three of those were found opportunistically, and only 1 in a trap. In
addition, 72 tracking tunnels detected 17 CSGW.
Because of these low numbers of CSGW detected, the study was unable to generate
absolute population density. However, the tracking tunnel data confirms that the
species remains widely and relatively uniformly distributed across the island.
The study concluded that GSGW current occupancy is stable but low, and
recommended that Matiu Somes remains closed to harvesting for translocations
until further monitoring confirms a positive growth trend. Repeat tunnel survey
was suggested in two years’ time. When translocations do resume, a conservative
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harvesting quota was recommended to mitigate risks of overharvesting and ensure
the continued stability of the island’s population.
DOC Property Budget
As reported previously, we are at maximum capacity for building work on the motu
for 2025/6. Once that Spatial Plan has been written we need to shape up some bids
for 2026/27.
The next phase includes:
• demolition of the LPG Shed between the Visitors Centre and the motels –
includes advice on the tuatara apparently still living in the drain at the back.
• urgent sewer pipe repairs
• complete power system upgrade
• upgrade to the circuit track – a draft design is being consulted on. We would
be happy to have further involvement from the Board.
• archaeological assessments are being completed for all work disturbing
land.
Longer term, the next significant item is an upgrade to sewage separation. This is
an old issue, because there isn’t separation of wastewater and stormwater on the
island. Engagement with Greater Wellington Regional Council will be required on
design issues.
IVL Funding
We reported previously on also receiving $200k of International Visitor Funding
money for Matiu this year – effectively $175k when DOC overhead is deducted. We
have now committed all that funding, including to:
• Audio video iwi stories and AV equipment – s9(2) leading
• Website for Matiu – funding in place for PNBST
(a) and development ongoing
through s9(2)(a). Includes professional photos of the island and board
members, new email addresses, new booking system for whare mahana
(subject to discussion).
• Museum upgrade – the whole visitor centre apart from the toilets is being
committed to the museum. Work is underway on a new access ramp,
restoration of internal woodwork and repainting. The current museum
contents are being relocated during this work. Further funding will be
needed for planned new contents apart from the new audio video stories and
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equipment (see above). Curation advice has been offered by Te Papa,
Wellington Museum and volunteer curators.
• Upgrade of outdoor furniture – furniture purchased
• Give Forest and Bird House a 60/70s vibe – completed.
• Extend funding to 30 June for s9(2)(a) to deliver DOC work sitting with
PNBST – funding in place.
• Restore gardens around houses and old LPG shed – completed by He Kaha
Tuatinitini. Forest & Bird to provide new plants when nursery stocks permit
(likely winter 2027)
• Matiu Spatial Plan top up
• Burrow cams for penguins
We plan to seek further funding for further work. We have put in a request for
further IVL funding next year, but this is by no means guaranteed. Apart from any
items identified in the Board’s Spatial Plan work, these include:
• Co-branded uniform
• Bi-lingual signage
• Mural on the Quarantine centre – concept to be developed with iwi designer
• Forest & Bird House lino polish
• Visitor Centre floor
• Museum contents:
o Security cameras
o Secure cabinets
o Digital photo smart frames
o Wireless microphone kit for filming future interviews
Island Biosecurity
No issues to report
East by West
EBW has returned to its Winter timetable. Latest visitor numbers are as follows:
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Passengers
Passengers paying
exempt from
Total passengers travelling
Month
visitor fees
visitor fee
to Mātiu
Apr-25
1226
251
1477
May-25
474
341
815
Jun-25
637
68
705
Jul-25
540
109
649
Aug-25
521
191
712
Sept-25
751
188
939
Oct-25
310
100
410
Nov-25
967
1125
2092
Dec-25
1233
755
1988
Jan-26
1905
207
2112
Feb-26
1096
567
1663
Mar-26
857
811
1668
Volunteer Work
Karobusters have completed their Summer programme, including a further
weeding trip on Mākaro/Ward Island. Leader s9(2)(a)
will attend the May
meeting to discuss progress. Two issues we are working through with them:
• national standards for abseiling have been greatly raised/narrowed, so it’s
unlikely that DOC and volunteer abseilers can continue to carry out
weeding on steep slopes. Drone spraying was conducted on Matiu last year
and is increasingly seen as the best alternative.
• with the retirement of Tiniwaka, travel to Mokopuna and Mākaro Islands is
principally by our DOC boat based at Mana Marina. There is pressure on
its capacity to meet all demands, also from Mana and Kāpiti Islands, as well
as limitations due to weather. A programme of monthly visits to Te
Whanganui-a-Tara has been developed, and we are still working through
how best to support volunteers as well as DOC requirements. Other options
may need to be considered – e.g. the Police have occasionally provided
support from their vessel.
Our penguin people have completed their surveys for this breeding season and
presented their annual report.
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s9(2)(a)
In summary:
• Chick fledging was 78% for the 2025-2026 kororā breeding season on Matiu Somes
Island.
• Breeding data for the past 10 years indicates a stable population.
• eDNA faecal sample analysis showed six dietary species and a diverse range of
non-diet taxa.
• A second season of monitoring selected wharf nestboxes for the presence of the
kororā specific tick Ixodes eudyptidis again showed no adverse effects on the
breeding outcome of the kororā.
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Budget Update
Item
Amount
Spend to date Comment
Contractors, tools and
repairs
$28,000
$30,000
Heritage and
Visitor costs
Ferry travel
$8,000
$10,643
DOC, Volunteer,
Iwi
Summer Ranger
$20,000
$19,617
Four months in
peak season
One day per week -
off season. Casual
Cleaner
$12,000
$6,000
island support role
for annual leave
and sickness cover
Predator dogs,
Biosecurity related costs
$5,000
$4,500
supplies and trap
replacement
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Harbours Islands
Weed Control
$10,000
$10,050
drone weed
spraying
Hunting
Gull/Goose Control
$2,000
$1,700
component, egg
oiling mainly staff
time
Manaaki Groups - Karo
Plant covers,
Buster, Penguin and F&B
$4,000
$3,000
compost and barge
run for F&B
Matiu Taiao Plan draft
$3,000
$0
Work underway –
yet to be invoiced
Iwi lizard monitoring
training
$7,000
$6,800
April - June 2026
with Trent Bell
Project completed -
Survey of wētāpunga
reports available.
population
$10,000
$8,500
One invoice to
come.
Matiu Spatial Plan
$90,000
$16,692
Progressing
IVL budget
$174,000
$81,001
Full budget is
committed
Kaitiaki Board fees and
hui expenses
$8,000
$2,000
Kaitiaki Board Secretariat
$8,000
$8,000
Complete
Total
$389,000
$208,503
Capital works program
Item
Amount
Spend to date
Caretaker’s Cottage reroof
(reactive CAPEX)
$99,600
$95,000
Work completed
Property program: Visitor
centre repaint / Rec room
reroof / Caretaker
$200,000
$150,000
Completed
cladding
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Circuit Track upgrade
$500,000
$0
April - September
2026
Penguin burrow
LPG shed removal and
moved, tuatara
on
$28,000
$0
burrow will be
scoped
Power system upgrade
$500,000
$400,000
February - March
2026
Total CAPEX
$1,327,600
$645,000
Revenue
East by West
$0
July year to date.
Nothing received
July year to date for
Accommodation
$43,728
Education House
and Caretakers
Cottage
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