Motu Kaikōura (or Selwyn Island), a rugged island sanctuary in the Hauraki Gulf, faces one last challenge on its journey to ecological restoration - the persistent kiore (Pacific rat). CESA is partnering with the Motu Kaikōura Trust to design and deploy innovative, low-impact pest-control technologies to help the island reach true predator-free status and allow its native wildlife to thrive once more. Image: Motu Kaikoura Trust https://motukaikoura.org/.
By CESA on 22 October, 2025
This is an ongoing project! Check back often for updates.
Motu Kaikōura, a 564-hectare island off the coast of Aotea (Great Barrier Island), is one of the Hauraki Gulf's most ecologically rich yet fragile sanctuaries. Once home to Ngāti Tai and Ngāti Rehua, the island later became farmland before being purchased by the New Zealand Government in 2003 and entrusted to the Motu Kaikōura Trust. Since then, the Trust has worked steadily toward its vision of restoring the island's native ecosystems and achieving "zero density" of invasive species.
Over the years, deer, goats, and cats have been removed, allowing the forest to regenerate and birdlife to return - including kākāriki, brown teal, and morepork. Yet one mammalian predator remains: the kiore (Pacific rat). Despite extensive baiting and trapping since 2014, kiore populations continue to persist at levels that prevent full recovery of native species. These rodents prey on seeds, invertebrates, and eggs, posing a major threat to the island's delicate ecological balance.
To support the Trust's long-term goal, the Conservation Engineering Society of Aotearoa (CESA) is stepping in to help design and implement the next generation of predator-control solutions. Our team will conduct an on-site ecological and topographic assessment of Motu Kaikōura to better understand its unique terrain, vegetation density, and microclimates. These insights will guide the development of advanced pest-management systems - potentially including autonomous drones for monitoring and precision bait delivery, sensor networks, and data-driven ecological modelling.
This partnership marks an exciting collaboration between traditional conservation and engineering innovation. By combining local ecological knowledge with technical expertise, CESA aims to deliver tools that are effective, scalable, and environmentally sensitive, accelerating progress toward a pest-free Motu Kaikōura.
CESA's initial work will focus on a field assessment and technical consultation, provided pro bono to the Trust. The visit will gather essential data on terrain, communications, and existing monitoring systems - the foundation for future technology design and deployment.
Eradicating the final population of kiore would complete a twenty-year restoration journey and create a safe haven for native flora and fauna to flourish again. Through this project, Motu Kaikōura has the potential to become a living example of how technology and conservation can work hand-in-hand to protect Aotearoa's most precious taonga.
Visit the Motu Kaikoura Trust at https://motukaikoura.org/.
