Staff for the Department of Conservation (DoC) in Coromandel are outraged after two boaties were seen taking dogs on to pest-free Kawhitu/Stanley Island, risking decades of conservation work.

Two dogs were seen on the island on Saturday, February 8.

Kawhitu, which is 86ha, is a haven for protected species under the Reserves Act 1977.

The Department of Conservation is calling on responsible boaties to report others who land on Coromandel’s off-limits islands after a concerning breach on Kawhitu/Stanley Island.

DoC’s Coromandel operations manager, Nick Kelly, said the latest incident occurred on Saturday, February 8, when two people from a 660 Haines Hunter boat named Nirvana 2 were spotted on the island with two dogs.

“Our informants saw these individuals walking along the beach at around 1.30pm, despite clear signage indicating the island is strictly off-limits,” he said.

Kawhitu is classified as a nature reserve under the Reserves Act 1977, meaning entry is prohibited without permission. Kelly said the actions of the boaties were extremely distressing.

“As well as ignoring the rules, these individuals have jeopardised decades of conservation efforts protecting vulnerable species,” he said.

“Their actions also pose a serious biosecurity risk, undermining the strict protocols we enforce for staff and authorised visitors.”

At 86 hectares, Kawhitu is a haven for protected species, including tieke/saddlebacks, flesh-footed shearwaters/toanui, and kakariki/red-crowned parakeets.

Kelly urged the skipper or owner of Nirvana 2, or anyone who saw the vessel’s occupants go ashore, to contact DoC on 0800 DOC HOT, quoting CLE-8615.