Rowi Kiwi on Motuara Island — A Rare Conservation Success Story in the Marlborough Sounds
The Marlborough Sounds in New Zealand is one of the most important wildlife conservation regions in the Southern Hemisphere. Its network of sheltered islands, calm waters and protected biodiversity make it a world-class sanctuary for rare and critically endangered species. Motuara Island is one of the most significant of these islands. It is predator-free, carefully managed, and actively used to stabilise and restore some of New Zealand’s rarest birds — including the Rowi Kiwi, the rarest kiwi species on Earth.
For eco-travellers who value responsible tourism, a guided visit to Motuara Island with E-Ko Tours offers a rare chance to walk inside a living conservation project. You see the results of two decades of work rather than read about them in a museum. You learn why this island matters to the future of wildlife in Aotearoa, and you directly support the conservation activity by travelling there with a DOC-approved operator.
What Makes the Rowi Kiwi So Special
The Rowi Kiwi is the rarest kiwi species. Numbers once dropped to around 150 birds in the wild. That made extinction a realistic possibility. Intensive intervention was the only reason they survived. Today, the population has grown to more than 600, driven by strategic breeding and release programmes.
Motuara Island plays a direct role in that recovery. Young Rowi are transferred to this predator-free island to grow in safety before being returned to their source regions. E-Ko Tours has supported Project Nest Egg for over 12 years by providing free transport for staff and birds to the island. That contribution enabled more breeding cycles to succeed and lifted the overall survivability of the species.
The Rowi Kiwi is also biologically and behaviourally different from other kiwi. It is heavier, lives longer and produces fewer eggs. Each bird therefore represents a large percentage of the total breeding potential of the species. This is why the island must remain free from predators and human disturbance outside tightly controlled access.
Visiting Motuara Island — What You Actually Experience
A day trip to Motuara Island with E-Ko Tours begins on the water. Marine biologist guides accompany every tour, providing context on the Sounds, the islands and the wildlife before you step ashore. Calm waters give a comfortable boat journey. On many days dolphins are seen en route, as the Sounds host several resident dolphin species.
Once on Motuara, you enter a Department of Conservation protected sanctuary. The soundscape changes first. Birdsong is constant and layered. That contrast with mainland bush is one of the first signs you are in a functioning predator-free system. Species that struggle elsewhere flourish here.
You follow a formed track through regenerating native bush. Interpretive information from your guide explains why certain vegetation matters and how restoration has been staged over the years. The island is not a recreation space. It is a working sanctuary and you are inside it.
Although Rowi Kiwi are nocturnal and not typically visible during daytime visits, you still see evidence of the programme. You stand in the same environment where juveniles roam and acclimatise before release. That connection to a live conservation pipeline is what makes Motuara exceptional.
Conservation in Action — What Makes the Island Work
Predator-free sanctuaries succeed through detail, not luck. Motuara Island works because of:
- Strict Biosecurity — No rats, stoats or possums can enter. Everything is checked before landing.
- Controlled Access — Only concession holders such as E-Ko Tours can land guided groups.
- Habitat Management — Native vegetation is restored and maintained to replicate historic conditions.
- Breeding & Translocation — Rare species are brought in to establish secure founding populations.
- Ongoing Monitoring — Birds are tagged, measured and tracked to verify programme success.
The results are measurable. Rowi Kiwi numbers are now rising from the brink. Other species such as the Orange-fronted Kākāriki have been re-established on nearby islands using similar methods. Motuara Island therefore stands as proof that targeted sanctuary models can prevent extinction.
Why E-Ko Tours is the Right Operator for Motuara Island
Not all operators have access to these islands. E-Ko Tours operates under Department of Conservation concession to land visitors on Motuara Island. That permission exists because of proven conservation alignment and long-term involvement in the breeding programme.
Several advantages stand out:
- Marine biologist guides offer more than commentary. They give scientific context.
- Personal small group format keeps impact low and interpretation high.
- Free transport support for conservation staff links tourism directly to protection.
- Exclusive access to sanctuary islands ensures your visit is meaningful, not superficial.
When you travel with E-Ko Tours, your ticket does more than take you to an island. It funds monitoring, transport and biosecurity that keep the island viable for rare species.
A Responsible Wildlife Experience in a Globally Important Region
The Marlborough Sounds is not only scenic. It is ecologically strategic. Many rare species now survive here because of the unique geography and strict protection of its islands. Visiting Motuara Island offers a direct connection to that story.
You walk through a sanctuary that shapes the future of New Zealand wildlife. Then you hear and see what predator-free systems look like when they are allowed to reset. You learn how a species once counted in the dozens now stands a genuine chance of long-term survival.
Responsible visitors play a role in keeping that work funded and visible. E-Ko Tours provides that access in a way that respects the island, the species and the science behind its recovery.
Plan Your Wildlife Experience with E-Ko Tours
If you value ethical, education-led nature travel, Motuara Island is one of the most important places you can visit in New Zealand. It is rare to stand inside a working conservation success story. It is rarer still to do so with expert interpretation and low-impact practice.
You can learn more about Motuara Island visits, conservation-aligned tours and available dates on the E-Ko Tours website. Supporting this experience helps protect the species that depend on the island — including the rarest kiwi on Earth.
Explore upcoming tours and plan your visit at www.e-ko.nz and take part in a wildlife experience that protects what you have come to see.
