An ecological survey of Kuranui (Penguin Island) and Waikaia (Rabbit Island), western Bay of Plenty

Kuranui and Waikaia are iwi-owned islands in the Slipper group off the east coast of the Coromandel peninsula that have not been surveyed for 50 years. We visited both islands for one day and night each in April 2024 and undertook rodent trapping and species surveys of birds, reptiles, and vascular plants. The islands have changed little in 50 years. The avifauna remains similar and shared between both islands while the vegetation has continued to recover on a successional trajectory to a native state following burning. Some new weed species have colonised both islands. Kiore are the sole introduced mammal species on both islands and are abundant, though smaller than elsewhere in New Zealand. Ōi (grey-faced petrel) are abundant on both islands, with a historical estimate on Kuranui from the early 2000s of 5500 burrows. Due to their general inaccessibility the islands have retained their natural character from the lack of human disturbance.