• A $4 fee may be introduced to help fund Ulva Island wharf repairs
• The wharf is the only access point and is in serious disrepair
• Ulva Island has recently dealt with rat incursions despite predator-free status
Visitors to the pest-free sanctuary of Ulva Island may soon need to pay a $4 fee each time they land, if a new proposal is accepted. The potential charge is part of a plan to upgrade the only wharf on the island, located at Post Office Cove.
A report prepared for the Stewart Island/Rakiura Community Board outlines the idea behind the fee. “This proposed fee is focused on tourists and visitors that use the Ulva Island wharf, to generate funding for the ongoing repair and maintenance of Stewart Island wharves,” it states.
The charge would only be implemented if the wharf is successfully upgraded. The Post Office Cove structure was deemed to be at the end of its functional life in September 2023, and the Southland District Council placed restrictions on its use. It narrowly avoided closure in March 2024 when ownership was transferred to the Hunter Family Trust, which also owns nearby land.
However, the wharf remains in poor condition. Council staff are still waiting for engineering input and design plans. An engineer has been engaged to work on the project, but design advice was not available in time for the latest board meeting.
The project has a total of $900,000 in funding set aside from both the Tourism Infrastructure Fund and the Stewart Island Visitor Levy, which is also due to increase from $10 to $15 in October.
Stewart Island/Rakiura ward councillor Jon Spraggon, who has served on the community board for 17 years, declined to comment on the proposed fee ahead of the meeting.
Ulva Island, located just off Stewart Island, has been a popular tourist spot due to its unique predator-free status. However, maintaining that status has proven difficult. Since the beginning of 2024, two rats have been found in traps on the island, prompting rapid responses. These pests are capable of swimming from Stewart Island, raising ongoing biosecurity concerns.
The future of the wharf—and the potential fee—will depend on the outcome of upcoming decisions and engineering advice.