Crocodile Island is a small sand island with re-generating bush in the Orewa Estuary, not far off the Orewa College grounds and accessible by foot at low tide. Hibiscus Coast Forest and Bird have kept an eye on it for at least the last twenty years with small groups removing weeds and undertaking occasional plantings. There are pest bait stations there monitored and refilled by volunteers associated with the Eaves Bush Appreciation Group.
In recent years weeding work by our volunteers has removed pampas from the island and cut out wattle. Vigilance is required for new seedlings. The Council has sprayed gorse. Manuka dominates one end of the island and flax is doing well. Plantings have struggled in the peaty soil, but natural regeneration is good with many seedlings of mapou and taupata. Some classic coastal species with limited distribution are present, including umbrella sedge and coastal ribbonwood and coastal tree daisy. The native herb toatoa is widespread.
The island is to be renamed Te Motu-o-Marae-Ariki under treaty settlement legislation to recognise the cultural significance of the estuary for Ngati Whatua of Kaipara.
