Owning a turtle on Aotea
At this point and time, owning a turtle on Aotea/Great Barrier Island is still permittable. There are, however, some turtles including the snake neck turtle and the red-eared slider turtle, which are now seen as a threat to our ecosystem and are prohibited from being brought to the island.
Under the Auckland Regional Pest Management Plan 2020-2030, it is illegal to move red-eared slider turtles to Aotea / Great Barrier Island or breed or distribute them on the island. However, there may be some pet turtles that were brought to the island prior to this ruling and if so, it is OK to keep them as long as they are contained in a secure enclosure to avoid accidental escapes.
Red-eared slider turtles have an olive to brown shell, patterned with yellow spots or stripes and a distinctive red stripe behind each eye. (see images for identification in link below).
Preferring still or slow-moving freshwater bodies, REST turtles can have a negative impact on the environment as they predate native species, take over water bird nesting sites to use for basking, spread disease, and may reduce water quality.
Report a sighting
Council’s Conservation Advisors are keen to hear from anyone who owns any type of turtle on the island and are appealing to the community to keep an eye out for any signs of turtles in the wild.
If you see a red-eared slider turtle in the wild, catch and contain it if you can. Record a photo of it on iNaturalist or report it via email pestfree@nullaucklandcouncil.govt.nz or phone (09) 301 0101 or (09) 429 0258.