October 15, 2025 | Kiwi Coast Website

Rail, Ride and Restore: More Traps Installed to Safeguard Wetlands

New traps have been installed along the original Opua Branch line, New Zealand’s most northern historical railway, in a partnership between Bay Bush Action, Kiwi Coast and Keteriki Ltd, who operate the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway.

The 14 km rail corridor between Kawakawa and Opua has undergone extensive upgrades in recent years. The trail leaves Kawakawa, winding through farmland in Taumārere, crossing the Kawakawa River at Taumārere, and entering a patchwork of salt marsh, raupō swamps, coastal wetlands and remnant forest until the trail arrives in Opua.

This heritage rail corridor (the oldest in the North Island, circa 1880-84), operated by local charity Keteriki Ltd (Bay of Islands Vintage Railway) also forms part of the Te Pou Herenga cycleway and includes habitat for many threatened and endangered birds such as the bittern/matuku hūrepo of which only around 950 are left in New Zealand. The swamp marshes are home to spotless crake and fernbirds, while the exposed mudflats attract spoonbills and herons..

But it’s not just the train and cyclists who use the rail corridor — pests also use the trail to move through the landscape and access vulnerable wetland habitats, threatening the native species that live there.

In 2020 Bay Bush Action and Kiwi Coast provided support to set up a trapline along the 14km corridor. Traps were provided through the Northland Regional Council’s ‘Mid North High Value Area’ project which supports community-led pest control efforts across the Mid North. Community volunteers from Opua and Kawakawa have been checking the traps monthly. With the recent upgrades to the railway line, the Keteriki – Vintage Railway team now check the traps as part of their regular operations.

“Keteriki Ltd-Bay of Islands Vintage Rail are thrilled to be working with Bay Bush volunteers and Kiwi Coast,” says General Manager Laurell Douglas. “We love sharing the unique cultural, heritage, ecological features of the corridor, wetland and riverscape with our visitors.  Long Bridge, at Taumārere, is the longest curved wooden rail bridge in the southern hemisphere and from the trains outside viewing deck you can feel immersed in the magic of another time. Working together with local community groups, hapū, farmers and schools on the corridor to enhance the biodiversity and protect endangered birds and river systems is important to all of us and we are thankful for the opportunity to have so many passionate volunteers on board with our ‘biodiversity corridor’ vision and kaupapa.”

Last year volunteers removed 19 stoats and 2 weasels from the corridor. The recent addition of the possum traps has helped fill gaps in the trap network, with stoat and possum traps now being found along the entirety of the trail. With the recent extra traps, more pests will be removed over the coming months.

The Keteriki – Vintage Railway team also recently hosted a bittern workshop with Wendy Ambury from the Love Bittern Trust. The workshop brought together farmers, schools, whānau, hapū, and community groups – along with Keteriki track and operational kaitiaki –to learn more about the endangered matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern). Critically endangered, Bittern can be viewed from the train at Long Bridge, Taumarere. Keteriki – Vintage Railway hosted the group on the train to share ideas and opportunities to protect and enhance the wetland habitat.

9 July 2025

Bay of Islands heritage railway celebrates Gold Qualmark accreditation with Tourism Minister

The first passenger rail service in New Zealand (established 1867) with the Kawakawa to Tauamrere tramway and subsequent rail link to Opua (opened 1884), has been awarded the Gold Sustainable Tourism Business Award this month. The Bay of Islands Vintage Railway and operating charitable entity Keteriki Ltd opened the extended two-hour railway experience along the Taumarere River in October 2024, following significant restoration works, recovering the heritage tracks from Taumarere to Whangae Tunnel (built 1880-84), alongside significant work to restore vintage engines and carriages, completed with support from the provincial growth funding 2021-2024.

Tourism Minister Louise Upston joined the team in celebrating their achievement this week, congratulating the Kerikeri-Bay of Islands Vintage Railway team for their well-deserved Gold Qualmark. “I know the team have worked hard to make the vintage railway a sustainable visitor destination and I really enjoyed my trip yesterday morning, departing from Kawakawa. The work they are doing to boost business and tourism while focusing on youth employment across Northland is really positive,” said Minister Upston.

Qualmark Specialist Greg Anderson’s report acknowledged the significant period of growth and change and notes this accomplishment has only been possible due to very strong management, systems and great people right across the operation. “Bay of Islands Vintage Railway have achieved many best practice scores throughout their assessment, which is a significant achievement and recognises the mahi across the entire team.” Going on to say, “the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway is of enormous importance to Kawakawa and the continued tourism renaissance in the Bay of Islands, the strong community and Ngati Hine foundations are an outstanding legacy model that is possible with great leadership, a strong vision, heaps of energy and sound governance.”

“It’s been an incredible team effort to open the new section of the rail between Taumarere Station and Whangae Tunnel, now travelling over Long Bridge, the longest curved wooden bridge in the Southern Hemisphere, and getting us closer back to our destination of Opua,” says General Manager for Keteriki Ltd, Lau’rell Douglas. We celebrate 160 years of rail with the discovery of coal in Kawakawa in 1864 and the subsequent Kawakawa to Taumarere Tram way established 1867. The restoration of the Heritage listed asset is significant for all New Zealanders and the cultural, heritage and ecological features along the corridor are breathtaking. We thank our visitors and patrons who have contributed to our success.

Tireless efforts from many volunteers over decades to realise this dream; with this Gold Qualmark accreditation, our team is excited to now be Trade ready and seeking key partnerships with inbound operators and tour groups who want to really feel the manākitanga and significant history of our experience. We can carry up to 150 passengers per journey and operate all year round, so have a lot to offer the tour, conference and event market. We now also have our Railway Station Café catering on board the train or at the station for up 150 guests. Winning the most Outstanding Event at the inaugural Savour Northland event, October 2024, was also testament to the quality of hospitality from our local team.”

NZTA Rail Safety Officer, Ra Thompson congratulated the Bay of Islands Vintage railway team on “a truly outstanding achievement.” “This recognition reflects not only your unwavering commitment to quality, sustainability, and visitor experience, but also the passion and care that define Bay of Islands Vintage Railway as a standout in New Zealand’s tourism landscape. It’s a well-deserved testament to the vision, leadership, and tireless work that you bring to preserving and showcasing our heritage is such a compelling way. Wishing you continued success as you inspire visitors and raise the bar for excellence in the tourism and heritage sector.”

Keteriki Ltd Chairman, Pita Tipene congratulated the General Manager for her continued leadership on our behalf of the board and our community, especially in the achievement of our Gold Qualmark. Moreover, our whole team is to be congratulated for their comprehensive efforts. We look forward to the next steps and the planning we have set for ourselves at Keteriki Ltd as we aim to fulfil our vision of being the ‘Choice journey for travellers in the Bay of Island’s” alongside our kaupapa- mission “All aboard and steaming back to the future”

Keteriki Ltd is a joint venture charitable entity (with Ngā Tangariki O Ngati Hine) established to operate the vintage railway. They are currently fundraising for the final stage of the restoration project, the Whangae Tunnel and final stage of track recovery 2.8km to Opua. The tunnel is the oldest rail tunnel in New Zealand, built with hand made bricks onsite between 1880-1884. Keteriki Ltd are also working with Kerikeri Steam Trust to complete the restoration on the 1910 steamboat the Minerva, which will connect to the rail visitor experience in Opua and the Far North District Council on the Pou Herenga Tai Twin Coast cycle trail.