The unique wildlife of Waiheke…and Colorado!

Waking up to the cool, water-laden air of Waiheke is an experience I never want to leave. Each morning, I’m greeted by the gentle lapping of waves against Palm Beach, the sweet chatter of Tūī and Kākā, and the quiet rustling of fern leaves... As my time on Waiheke reaches its end, I find myself holding tightly to the sounds, scents, and colors that have become so familiar. I will miss the tranquility of the motu, which has welcomed me at the start of each new day. I will miss the vibrant, ever-changing natural landscape that seems to embody the spirit of the island itself. But most of all, I’ll deeply miss the people—those so deeply connected to the energy of Waiheke, whose fierce dedication to protecting its uniquely charming and vitally important native wildlife has left a life-long impact.

Meet the ngākeoke, also known as the velvet worm — a living fossil that has remained almost unchanged for over 500 million years. With their velvety skin, curious mix of worm- and insect-like traits, and extraordinary hunting tactics, these ancient creatures are some of Aotearoa’s most fascinating hidden residents.

Imagery via iNaturalist, Jacob Littlejohn (jacobl)

Aotearoa has been a land apart for millions of years, this has led to some remarkable examples of evolution driven by the environment - such as Dwarfism & Gigantism. The evolution of Rails on Aotearoa has been particularly fascinating…..

Giant Kōkopu - It’s been a wet few weeks, and while our water tanks are grateful, there’s another upside to all this rain—one particular fish has been biding it’s time, waiting for floods…..

Get to know what a day in the life of a Field Team Technician for the stoat team looks like, working towards a predator-free Waiheke. Reuben Giles shares what his day-to-day looks like, how he got into conservation, and his best work story.

Get to know what a day in the life of a Field Operative looks like, working towards a predator-free Waiheke. Jessica Weston shares what her day-to-day looks like, how she got into conservation, and her best work story.

The harvest moon is upon us here in the southern hemisphere and all around is an abundance of food ripening on vines, trees and flower heads. After building nests and rearing young, most adult backyard birds spend autumn eating, loading up before the winter. But for the young birds who are in adolescence now, they have one key thing on the agenda…speed.

The red-billed gull or Tarāpunga is the most common of our native gull species but is experiencing serious decline. This bird has adapted remarkably well to living near humans, often aggressively taking advantage of our presence compared to other species that retreat to wild areas or become extinct. Despite their reputation, red-billed gulls are incredibly interesting and surprising creatures, and in my opinion, they don’t deserve the negative attention.

Those of us who are interested in nature will often spend our bushwalks craning our necks for a glimpse of native birds in the canopy or keeping an ear out for birdsong. However, while being so attentive to one group of animals, it is easy to miss another, often hiding in plain sight, such as mokomoko, geckos.

Many of us will have had the pleasure of swimming or sitting on a stream bank and encountering an eel (or tuna). While their serpent-like appearance may not lead them to win a beauty contest, eels are absolutely fascinating creatures.

Dr. Andrew Veale has successfully mapped the stoat genome, providing a comprehensive genetic reference for the species. Recently, he completed the latest DNA analysis of all stoats caught on Waiheke Island between September 2023 and August 2024.

You loved Charlie’s Chats, but now we are introducing Tilde's Talks! Tilde Sorensen, a Waiheke local and a Te Korowai o Waiheke Field Team Technician, graduated from the University of Auckland in 2022 with a Master's in bio-security and conservation, specialising in monitoring invasive and native skinks on islands.