Lizards, or mokomoko, are among the most overlooked creatures in our environment, yet they play a vital role in the balance of our ecosystems. Aotearoa is home to an incredible 126 species of geckos and skinks, all found nowhere else on Earth. These small reptiles act as pollinators, seed dispersers, and food for native birds. They’re simply part of everyday life in our environment, even if we don’t always notice them.
Despite their importance, mokomoko face constant threats. Introduced predators, invasive lizard species, and shrinking habitats all put pressure on native populations. Their quiet presence often goes unnoticed, which makes it easy to underestimate their value and the challenges they face. The recent pilot workshop held in Te Taitokerau is an encouraging step, showing how communities can take action to better understand, protect, and restore local lizard populations.
The Rich Diversity of Aotearoa’s Lizards
Our native mokomoko come in many forms, from small, sleek skinks to beautifully patterned geckos. Each species has its own story, shaped by the environment it calls home. Some live high in alpine scree slopes, others thrive in forests, wetlands, or coastal dunes.
On the shores of Te Taitokerau, two locals are often seen — the shore skink (Oligosoma smithi) and the copper skink (Oligosoma aeneum). Both are small, fast-moving lizards that can be mistaken for the invasive rainbow skink (Lampropholis delicata). The rainbow skink, however, breeds at a far greater rate, putting pressure on native populations by competing for the same food and habitat.
Learning to recognise the differences between these lizards is more than a matter of curiosity. It’s a vital skill for protecting native species and making sure conservation efforts are focused where they can have the greatest impact.
Why Monitoring Matters
Mokomoko live quiet lives, often hidden in undergrowth, dunes, or rock piles, which makes it easy to overlook their struggles. Yet their survival is under constant pressure. Rats, mice, hedgehogs, cats, and invasive skinks all compete with or prey on them. On top of this, many habitats have been lost or altered, leaving smaller and more fragile populations behind.
Regular monitoring is one of the best ways to track changes in lizard populations. It helps us understand what threats they’re facing. By tracking where mokomoko are found and monitoring their numbers, communities can make better decisions. This data informs predator control, habitat restoration, and helps measure whether conservation efforts are working.
By monitoring them, we start to see mokomoko not just as elusive neighbours, but as taonga needing our care.
The Pilot Workshop in Te Taitokerau
In early November, kaimahi from Patuharakeke, Aki Tai Here and Northland Regional Council met in the Patuharakeke rohe for a pilot lizard-monitoring workshop led by ecologist and herpetologist Jacqui Wairepo. The day introduced participants to coastal lizards of Te Taitokerau, population trends, threats, and the importance of safe-handling rules. Because mokomoko are protected under the Wildlife Act, they should never be handled unless by someone authorised by the Department of Conservation. Survey methods focused on the use of tracking tunnels and how to interpret the tracks they record. These simple tools can reveal the presence of lizards and the predators that threaten them.
Participants then put their learning into practice by setting up two monitoring transects through a mid-dune area. Tracking tunnels were placed at intervals along the lines and marked with pink ribbon so they can be easily found.
Creating Lizard-Friendly Spaces
Inspired by what they learned about mokomoko habitat needs, workshop participants discovered that anyone living near the coast can help by making their gardens and properties more welcoming to native lizards. The key is providing safe spaces where mokomoko can feed, bask, and hide from predators.
Jacqui encourages people to let coastal gardens stay “a little wilder” rather than keeping them overly tidy. Piles of driftwood, native shrubs, and rocky corners create the shelter and warmth lizards need. These pockets of natural habitat also support insects, which in turn provide food for skinks and geckos.
But as the workshop participants learned from studying those tracking tunnel prints, even the best habitat offers little protection if predators are present. Combining safe shelter with active predator control gives mokomoko the conditions they need to survive and rebuild their numbers, exactly what the monitoring data helps communities understand and measure.
How You Can Help Mokomoko Thrive
Mokomoko are part of our natural heritage, yet their future depends on the actions we take now. By learning how to recognise them, protecting their habitats, and keeping predator numbers down, we give these small reptiles a real chance to thrive.
The success of the Te Taitokerau workshop demonstrates that effective mokomoko protection starts with the right knowledge and tools. When communities come together with proper guidance and equipment, real conservation impact becomes possible. The participants didn’t just learn about lizards, they gained practical skills they could immediately put to use in their own environments.
But you don’t need to wait for the next workshop to make a difference. Whether you’re inspired to start monitoring in your own backyard or join a community conservation effort, having access to proven equipment and practical guidance makes all the difference in protecting these taonga.
Gotcha Traps provides the tracking tunnels, which have proven to be the reliable and non-invasive monitoring tool that conservation groups use in the field. The tracking tunnels reveal mokomoko presence to effectively support you in safeguarding these precious species for generations to come.