Marlborough Sounds island predator-free, says minister

Blumine Island in the Marlborough Sounds is free of predators which means native species such as kiwi can be moved there, Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick said today.

There has been no sign of mice or stoats on the island in Queen Charlotte Sound since rodent eradication and stoat trapping in 2005, she said.

As a wildlife sanctuary, the island would have an important role in sustaining endangered native species such as robins, tieke (South Island saddleback), kakariki and kiwi which could now be located there, she said.

Tui, bellbirds, fantails and kereru were among the native species already on the island which also had a unique giant snail species, powelliphanta hochstetteri bicolour.

Ms Chadwick said the sanctuary was the result of a partnership between Untouched World Charitable Trust, the Department of Conservation and other commercial and educational organisations.

As a result of the partnership, week-long educational programmes were held on the island for secondary school students who contributed to restoration work by monitoring wildlife and plants and carrying out trap maintenance.

The island was open to the public and Ms Chadwick said she expected its popularity to increase as the bush and wildlife regenerated.

It also had historical interest as a former World War 2 military base with gun emplacements and other installations from that time.

- NZPA