diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 1eebc4b0fc5..69104a79c40 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -494,8 +494,6 @@ ELSE (WIN32)
     ELSE ()
         SET (OSX_HAVE_LOADERPATH 0)
     ENDIF ()
-    #this will define ${APP_SERVICES_LIBRARY}
-    FIND_LIBRARY(APP_SERVICES_LIBRARY ApplicationServices )
 
     SET (DEFAULT_BIN_SUBDIR      bin)
     SET (QGIS_BIN_SUBDIR_REV     ..)
@@ -750,6 +748,11 @@ ADD_CUSTOM_TARGET(version ALL DEPENDS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/qgsversion.h)
 #TEST_DATA_DIR is also used by QgsRenderChecker currently in core
 SET (TEST_DATA_DIR "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/tests/testdata")
 
+SET(USE_NATIVE_LIB FALSE)
+IF(APPLE)
+  SET(USE_NATIVE_LIB TRUE)
+ENDIF(APPLE)
+
 ADD_SUBDIRECTORY(src)
 ADD_SUBDIRECTORY(doc)
 ADD_SUBDIRECTORY(images)
diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 5a7e4a1a1b5..ad560a18600 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+IF(USE_NATIVE_LIB)
+  ADD_SUBDIRECTORY(native)
+ENDIF(USE_NATIVE_LIB)
+
 ADD_SUBDIRECTORY(core)
 ADD_SUBDIRECTORY(analysis)
 ADD_SUBDIRECTORY(ui)
diff --git a/src/app/CMakeLists.txt b/src/app/CMakeLists.txt
index 14426375215..a3b09161ffd 100755
--- a/src/app/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/app/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -529,12 +529,18 @@ INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(SYSTEM
   ${QWTPOLAR_INCLUDE_DIR}
   ${QCA_INCLUDE_DIR}
   ${QTKEYCHAIN_INCLUDE_DIR}
-  )
+)
 
 IF(ENABLE_MODELTEST)
   INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(../../tests/qt_modeltest)
 ENDIF(ENABLE_MODELTEST)
 
+IF (USE_NATIVE_LIB)
+  IF(APPLE)
+    INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/src/native/mac)
+  ENDIF(APPLE)
+ENDIF(USE_NATIVE_LIB)
+
 IF (ANDROID)
   INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(SYSTEM ${ANDROID_NDK_TOOLCHAIN_ROOT}/sysroot/usr/include)
 ENDIF (ANDROID)
@@ -586,6 +592,10 @@ IF (APPLE)
   TARGET_LINK_LIBRARIES(qgis_app ${APP_SERVICES_LIBRARY})
 ENDIF(APPLE)
 
+IF(USE_NATIVE_LIB)
+  TARGET_LINK_LIBRARIES(qgis_app qgis_native)
+ENDIF(USE_NATIVE_LIB)
+
 if(MSVC AND CMAKE_SIZEOF_VOID_P EQUAL 8)
   SET_TARGET_PROPERTIES(qgis_app PROPERTIES STATIC_LIBRARY_FLAGS "/machine:x64")
 ENDIF(MSVC AND CMAKE_SIZEOF_VOID_P EQUAL 8)
@@ -605,9 +615,11 @@ IF(WIN32)
   TARGET_LINK_LIBRARIES(qgis_app DbgHelp Qt5::WinExtras)
 ENDIF(WIN32)
 
-IF (APPLE)
-  TARGET_LINK_LIBRARIES(${QGIS_APP_NAME} ${APP_SERVICES_LIBRARY})
+IF(USE_NATIVE_LIB)
+  TARGET_LINK_LIBRARIES(${QGIS_APP_NAME} qgis_native)
+ENDIF(USE_NATIVE_LIB)
 
+IF (APPLE)
   SET_TARGET_PROPERTIES(${QGIS_APP_NAME} PROPERTIES
     INSTALL_RPATH ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/${QGIS_LIB_DIR}
     INSTALL_RPATH_USE_LINK_PATH true
diff --git a/src/app/qgisapp.cpp b/src/app/qgisapp.cpp
index 60bee574eea..ec8a55a2b84 100644
--- a/src/app/qgisapp.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgisapp.cpp
@@ -101,6 +101,12 @@ Q_GUI_EXPORT extern int qt_defaultDpiX();
 #ifdef Q_OS_MACX
 #include <ApplicationServices/ApplicationServices.h>
 
+// Virtual interfaces to Cocoa objective-c frameworks/classes/calls
+// cocoainitializer is to handle objective-c garbage collection
+//   see: http://el-tramo.be/blog/mixing-cocoa-and-qt/
+//#include "cocoainitializer.h"
+#include "qgsmacappkit.h"
+
 // check macro breaks QItemDelegate
 #ifdef check
 #undef check
@@ -6120,9 +6126,10 @@ void QgisApp::bringAllToFront()
 {
 #ifdef Q_OS_MAC
   // Bring forward all open windows while maintaining layering order
-  ProcessSerialNumber psn;
-  GetCurrentProcess( &psn );
-  SetFrontProcess( &psn );
+  // method valid for Mac OS X >= 10.6
+  QgsNSRunningApplication* nsrapp = new QgsNSRunningApplication();
+  nsrapp->currentAppActivateIgnoringOtherApps();
+  delete nsrapp;
 #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/src/core/CMakeLists.txt b/src/core/CMakeLists.txt
index bfdbc143a02..fb13e3ee01e 100755
--- a/src/core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1044,6 +1044,12 @@ INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(SYSTEM
   ${QTKEYCHAIN_INCLUDE_DIR}
 )
 
+IF(USE_NATIVE_LIB)
+  IF(APPLE)
+    INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/src/native/mac)
+  ENDIF(APPLE)
+ENDIF(USE_NATIVE_LIB)
+
 #for PAL classes
 IF (WIN32)
     ADD_DEFINITIONS("-D_HAVE_WINDOWS_H_")
@@ -1112,9 +1118,9 @@ IF (WIN32)
   TARGET_LINK_LIBRARIES(qgis_core wsock32 ${SETUPAPI_LIBRARY} DbgHelp)
 ENDIF (WIN32)
 
-IF(APPLE)
-  TARGET_LINK_LIBRARIES(qgis_core "-framework CoreFoundation -framework IOKit")
-ENDIF(APPLE)
+IF(USE_NATIVE_LIB)
+  TARGET_LINK_LIBRARIES(qgis_core qgis_native)
+ENDIF(USE_NATIVE_LIB)
 
 IF (NOT WITH_INTERNAL_QEXTSERIALPORT)
   TARGET_LINK_LIBRARIES(qgis_core ${QEXTSERIALPORT_LIBRARY})
diff --git a/src/native/CMakeLists.txt b/src/native/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..99b1657def1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/native/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+#############################################################
+# locate native libs
+
+SET(NATIVE_LINK_LIBS)
+
+IF(APPLE)
+  SET(APPLE_LIB_LIST ApplicationServices CoreFoundation IOKit AppKit)
+  FOREACH(_lib ${APPLE_LIB_LIST})
+    STRING(TOUPPER ${_lib} _lib_var)
+    # prefer /System/Library/Frameworks, in case CMAKE_FIND_FRAMEWORK=LAST, etc.
+    FIND_LIBRARY(APPLE_${_lib_var}_LIBRARY
+      NAMES ${_lib}
+      PATHS /System/Library/Frameworks
+      NO_DEFAULT_PATH
+    )
+    # if not found, drop back to standard find paths
+    FIND_LIBRARY(APPLE_${_lib_var}_LIBRARY ${_lib})
+
+    IF(NOT APPLE_${_lib_var}_LIBRARY)
+      MESSAGE(FATAL_ERROR "Couldn't find Apple's '${_lib}' framework or library")
+    ENDIF(NOT APPLE_${_lib_var}_LIBRARY)
+
+    LIST(APPEND NATIVE_LINK_LIBS "-framework ${_lib}")
+  ENDFOREACH(_lib ${APPLE_LIB_LIST})
+ENDIF(APPLE)
+
+#############################################################
+# sources
+
+SET(QGIS_CORE_SRCS)
+
+IF(APPLE)
+  SET(QGIS_APP_OBJC_SRCS
+    mac/cocoainitializer.mm
+    mac/qgsmacappkit.mm
+  )
+
+  SET_SOURCE_FILES_PROPERTIES(${QGIS_APP_OBJC_SRCS} PROPERTIES COMPILE_FLAGS "-x objective-c++")
+
+  SET(QGIS_CORE_SRCS ${QGIS_CORE_SRCS}
+    ${QGIS_APP_OBJC_SRCS}
+    mac/qgsmacnative.cpp
+  )
+ENDIF(APPLE)
+
+SET(QGIS_CORE_MOC_HDRS)
+
+QT4_WRAP_CPP(QGIS_CORE_MOC_SRCS ${QGIS_CORE_MOC_HDRS})
+
+# install headers
+
+IF(APPLE)
+  SET (QGIS_CORE_HDRS ${QGIS_CORE_HDRS}
+    mac/qgsmacnative.h
+    mac/cocoainitializer.h
+    mac/qgsmacappkit.h
+  )
+ENDIF(APPLE)
+
+INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(
+  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}
+)
+
+IF(APPLE)
+  INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(mac)
+ENDIF(APPLE)
+
+# Test data dir for QgsRenderChecker
+ADD_DEFINITIONS(-DTEST_DATA_DIR="\\"${TEST_DATA_DIR}\\"")
+
+#############################################################
+# qgis_native library
+
+ADD_LIBRARY(qgis_native SHARED ${QGIS_CORE_SRCS} ${QGIS_CORE_MOC_SRCS} ${QGIS_CORE_HDRS} ${QGIS_CORE_MOC_HDRS})
+
+IF(NOT APPLE)
+  INSTALL(FILES ${QGIS_CORE_HDRS} ${QGIS_CORE_MOC_HDRS} DESTINATION ${QGIS_INCLUDE_DIR})
+ELSE(NOT APPLE)
+  SET_TARGET_PROPERTIES(qgis_native PROPERTIES
+    CLEAN_DIRECT_OUTPUT 1
+    FRAMEWORK 1
+    FRAMEWORK_VERSION "${CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MAJOR}.${CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MINOR}"
+    MACOSX_FRAMEWORK_INFO_PLIST "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/mac/framework.info.plist.in"
+    MACOSX_FRAMEWORK_SHORT_VERSION_STRING ${COMPLETE_VERSION}
+    MACOSX_FRAMEWORK_IDENTIFIER org.qgis.qgis2_native
+    BUILD_WITH_INSTALL_RPATH TRUE
+    PUBLIC_HEADER "${QGIS_CORE_HDRS};${QGIS_CORE_MOC_HDRS}"
+    LINK_FLAGS "${CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS}"
+  )
+ENDIF(NOT APPLE)
+
+#generate unversioned libs for android
+IF(NOT ANDROID)
+  SET_TARGET_PROPERTIES(qgis_native PROPERTIES
+    VERSION ${COMPLETE_VERSION}
+    SOVERSION ${COMPLETE_VERSION}
+    )
+ENDIF(NOT ANDROID)
+
+TARGET_LINK_LIBRARIES(qgis_native "${NATIVE_LINK_LIBS}")
+
+# install
+
+INSTALL(TARGETS qgis_native
+  RUNTIME DESTINATION ${QGIS_BIN_DIR}
+  LIBRARY DESTINATION ${QGIS_LIB_DIR}
+  ARCHIVE DESTINATION ${QGIS_LIB_DIR}
+  FRAMEWORK DESTINATION ${QGIS_FW_SUBDIR}
+  PUBLIC_HEADER DESTINATION ${QGIS_INCLUDE_DIR})
+
+# Mac dev frameworks
+
+IF (APPLE AND QGIS_MACAPP_INSTALL_DEV)
+  INSTALL(TARGETS qgis_native FRAMEWORK DESTINATION ${QGIS_MACAPP_DEV_PREFIX})
+  INSTALL(CODE "EXECUTE_PROCESS(COMMAND install_name_tool -id \"${QGIS_MACAPP_DEV_PREFIX}/qgis_native.framework/Versions/${CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MAJOR}.${CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MINOR}/qgis_native\" \"$ENV{DESTDIR}${QGIS_MACAPP_DEV_PREFIX}/qgis_native.framework/qgis_native\")")
+ENDIF (APPLE AND QGIS_MACAPP_INSTALL_DEV)
diff --git a/src/native/README.md b/src/native/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5d493143025
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/native/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+README for qgis_native lib
+==========================
+
+This library is intended to offer abstraction to the host OS's underlying public
+interfaces. This is useful for OSes that provide interfaces in languages other
+than C/C++, or for grouping calls to OS-specific code so that it only needs to
+be updated in one place in the source tree. It is advisable to leverage existing
+functions provided by Qt, rather than rely upon OS-specific code, unless such
+code extends the application to provide a better OS-specific user experience or
+solve a problem.
+
+Example
+-------
+
+As of Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) many system public API calls to Carbon libraries
+(based upon C) have been deprecated in favor of modern Cocoa libraries (written
+in Objective-C), which can no longer be directly called from C++. Coalescing
+and mixing these new calls in a library, using Objective-C++ allows not only
+access to the Apple system Objective-C libraries and frameworks, but also those
+from third-parties, like the auto-updating Sparkle.framework.
+
+See also: http://el-tramo.be/blog/mixing-cocoa-and-qt/
+          http://sparkle.andymatuschak.org/
diff --git a/src/native/mac/cocoainitializer.h b/src/native/mac/cocoainitializer.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b5aca4026ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/native/mac/cocoainitializer.h
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/***************************************************************************
+    cocoaInitializer.h - used to enable Cocoa’s memory management
+                             -------------------
+    copyright            : (C) 2008 by Remko Troncon
+    email                : remco at el-tramo dot be
+    url                  : http://el-tramo.be/blog/mixing-cocoa-and-qt/
+ ***************************************************************************/
+
+/***************************************************************************
+    Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+    modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+    met:
+
+        (1) Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+        notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+        (2) Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+        notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+        the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+        distribution.
+
+        (3)The name of the author may not be used to
+        endorse or promote products derived from this software without
+        specific prior written permission.
+
+    THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR
+    IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
+    WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+    DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT,
+    INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
+    (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
+    SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
+    HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT,
+    STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING
+    IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+    POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ ***************************************************************************/
+
+#ifndef COCOAINITIALIZER_H
+#define COCOAINITIALIZER_H
+
+
+class CocoaInitializer
+{
+  public:
+    CocoaInitializer();
+    ~CocoaInitializer();
+
+  private:
+    class Private;
+    Private* d;
+};
+
+#endif // COCOAINITIALIZER_H
diff --git a/src/native/mac/cocoainitializer.mm b/src/native/mac/cocoainitializer.mm
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bc7326a2239
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/native/mac/cocoainitializer.mm
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+/***************************************************************************
+    cocoaInitializer.mm - used to enable Cocoa’s memory management
+                             -------------------
+    copyright            : (C) 2008 by Remko Troncon
+    email                : remco at el-tramo dot be
+    url                  : http://el-tramo.be/blog/mixing-cocoa-and-qt/
+ ***************************************************************************/
+
+/***************************************************************************
+    Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+    modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+    met:
+
+        (1) Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+        notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+        (2) Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+        notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+        the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+        distribution.
+
+        (3)The name of the author may not be used to
+        endorse or promote products derived from this software without
+        specific prior written permission.
+
+    THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR
+    IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
+    WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+    DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT,
+    INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
+    (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
+    SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
+    HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT,
+    STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING
+    IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+    POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ ***************************************************************************/
+
+#include "CocoaInitializer.h"
+
+#include <AppKit/AppKit.h>
+#include <Cocoa/Cocoa.h>
+
+class CocoaInitializer::Private 
+{
+  public:
+    NSAutoreleasePool* autoReleasePool_;
+};
+
+CocoaInitializer::CocoaInitializer()
+{
+  d = new CocoaInitializer::Private();
+  NSApplicationLoad();
+  d->autoReleasePool_ = [[NSAutoreleasePool alloc] init];
+}
+
+CocoaInitializer::~CocoaInitializer()
+{
+  [d->autoReleasePool_ release];
+  delete d;
+}
diff --git a/src/native/mac/qgsmacappkit.h b/src/native/mac/qgsmacappkit.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d9b760f2205
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/native/mac/qgsmacappkit.h
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+/***************************************************************************
+    qgsmacappkit.h - interface to Mac objective-c AppKit.framework
+                             -------------------
+    begin                : January 2014
+    copyright            : (C) 2014 by Larry Shaffer
+    email                : larrys at dakotacarto dot com
+ ***************************************************************************/
+
+/***************************************************************************
+ *                                                                         *
+ *   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify  *
+ *   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by  *
+ *   the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or     *
+ *   (at your option) any later version.                                   *
+ *                                                                         *
+ ***************************************************************************/
+
+#ifndef QGSMACAPPKIT_H
+#define QGSMACAPPKIT_H
+
+#include "qgsmacnative.h"
+
+class QgsNSRunningApplication : public QgsMacAppKit
+{
+  public:
+    QgsNSRunningApplication();
+    ~QgsNSRunningApplication();
+
+    const char* currentAppLocalizedName();
+    void currentAppActivateIgnoringOtherApps();
+
+  private:
+    class Private;
+    Private* d;
+};
+
+#endif // QGSMACAPPKIT_H
diff --git a/src/native/mac/qgsmacappkit.mm b/src/native/mac/qgsmacappkit.mm
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a86611a60aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/native/mac/qgsmacappkit.mm
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/***************************************************************************
+    qgsmacappkit.mm - interface to Mac objective-c AppKit.framework
+                             -------------------
+    begin                : January 2014
+    copyright            : (C) 2014 by Larry Shaffer
+    email                : larrys at dakotacarto dot com
+ ***************************************************************************/
+
+/***************************************************************************
+ *                                                                         *
+ *   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify  *
+ *   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by  *
+ *   the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or     *
+ *   (at your option) any later version.                                   *
+ *                                                                         *
+ ***************************************************************************/
+
+#include "qgsmacappkit.h"
+
+#include <Cocoa/Cocoa.h>
+
+class QgsNSRunningApplication::Private
+{
+  public:
+//    NSObject *obj;
+};
+
+QgsNSRunningApplication::QgsNSRunningApplication()
+{
+//  d = new Private;
+//  d->obj = [NSObject someFunction];
+}
+
+QgsNSRunningApplication::~QgsNSRunningApplication()
+{
+//  [d->obj release];
+//  delete d;
+//  d = 0;
+}
+
+const char* QgsNSRunningApplication::currentAppLocalizedName()
+{
+  return [[[NSRunningApplication currentApplication] localizedName] UTF8String];
+}
+
+void QgsNSRunningApplication::currentAppActivateIgnoringOtherApps()
+{
+  // valid for Mac OS X >= 10.6
+  [[NSRunningApplication currentApplication] activateWithOptions:
+    (NSApplicationActivateAllWindows | NSApplicationActivateIgnoringOtherApps)];
+}
diff --git a/src/native/mac/qgsmacnative.cpp b/src/native/mac/qgsmacnative.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2b270200dc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/native/mac/qgsmacnative.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+/***************************************************************************
+    qgsmacnative.cpp - abstracted interface to native Mac objective-c
+                             -------------------
+    begin                : January 2014
+    copyright            : (C) 2014 by Larry Shaffer
+    email                : larrys at dakotacarto dot com
+ ***************************************************************************/
+
+/***************************************************************************
+ *                                                                         *
+ *   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify  *
+ *   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by  *
+ *   the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or     *
+ *   (at your option) any later version.                                   *
+ *                                                                         *
+ ***************************************************************************/
+
+#include "qgsmacnative.h"
+
+QgsMacAppKit::~QgsMacAppKit()
+{
+}
diff --git a/src/native/mac/qgsmacnative.h b/src/native/mac/qgsmacnative.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..82c2fa7bcd8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/native/mac/qgsmacnative.h
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+/***************************************************************************
+    qgsmacnative.h - abstracted interface to native Mac objective-c
+                             -------------------
+    begin                : January 2014
+    copyright            : (C) 2014 by Larry Shaffer
+    email                : larrys at dakotacarto dot com
+ ***************************************************************************/
+
+/***************************************************************************
+ *                                                                         *
+ *   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify  *
+ *   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by  *
+ *   the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or     *
+ *   (at your option) any later version.                                   *
+ *                                                                         *
+ ***************************************************************************/
+
+#ifndef QGSMACNATIVE_H
+#define QGSMACNATIVE_H
+
+class QgsMacAppKit
+{
+  public:
+    virtual ~QgsMacAppKit();
+
+    // NSRunningApplication interface
+    virtual const char* currentAppLocalizedName() = 0;
+    virtual void currentAppActivateIgnoringOtherApps() = 0;
+};
+
+#endif // QGSMACNATIVE_H
diff --git a/tests/src/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 4aaba9705b3..32395649d49 100644
--- a/tests/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ IF (ENABLE_TESTS)
   IF (WITH_DESKTOP)
     ADD_SUBDIRECTORY(app)
   ENDIF (WITH_DESKTOP)
+  IF(USE_NATIVE_LIB)
+    ADD_SUBDIRECTORY(native)
+  ENDIF(USE_NATIVE_LIB)
   IF (WITH_BINDINGS)
     ADD_SUBDIRECTORY(python)
   ENDIF (WITH_BINDINGS)
diff --git a/tests/src/app/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/src/app/CMakeLists.txt
index 3e8c4df0b07..a3accd0bd4a 100644
--- a/tests/src/app/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/src/app/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -37,6 +37,12 @@ INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(SYSTEM
   ${QSCINTILLA_INCLUDE_DIR}
 )
 
+IF(USE_NATIVE_LIB)
+  IF(APPLE)
+    INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/src/native/mac)
+  ENDIF(APPLE)
+ENDIF(USE_NATIVE_LIB)
+
 #note for tests we should not include the moc of our
 #qtests in the executable file list as the moc is
 #directly included in the sources
@@ -76,6 +82,10 @@ MACRO (ADD_QGIS_TEST testname testsrc)
     TARGET_LINK_LIBRARIES(qgis_${testname} ${APP_SERVICES_LIBRARY} )
   ENDIF(APPLE)
   ADD_TEST(qgis_${testname} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/../../../output/bin/qgis_${testname} -maxwarnings 10000)
+  IF(USE_NATIVE_LIB)
+    TARGET_LINK_LIBRARIES(qgis_${testname} qgis_native)
+  ENDIF(USE_NATIVE_LIB)
+  ADD_TEST(qgis_${testname} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/../../../output/bin/qgis_${testname})
   #SET_TARGET_PROPERTIES(qgis_${testname} PROPERTIES
   #  INSTALL_RPATH ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/${QGIS_LIB_DIR}
   #  INSTALL_RPATH_USE_LINK_PATH true )
diff --git a/tests/src/native/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/src/native/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2828818f966
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/src/native/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+# Standard includes and utils to compile into all tests.
+
+#####################################################
+# Don't forget to include output directory, otherwise
+# the UI file won't be wrapped!
+INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}
+  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}
+  ${QT_INCLUDE_DIR}
+  )
+
+IF(APPLE)
+  INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/src/native/mac)
+ENDIF(APPLE)
+
+#############################################################
+# Compiler defines
+
+# This define is used for tests that need to locate the test
+# data under tests/testdata in the qgis source tree.
+# the TEST_DATA_DIR variable is set in the top level CMakeLists.txt
+ADD_DEFINITIONS(-DTEST_DATA_DIR="\\"${TEST_DATA_DIR}\\"")
+
+ADD_DEFINITIONS(-DINSTALL_PREFIX="\\"${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}\\"")
+
+#############################################################
+# libraries
+
+# because of htonl
+IF (WIN32)
+  SET(PLATFORM_LIBRARIES wsock32)
+ENDIF (WIN32)
+
+# Since the tests are not actually installed, but rather
+# run directly from the build/src/tests dir we need to
+# ensure the qgis libs can be found.
+IF (APPLE)
+  # For Mac OS X, the executable must be at the root of the bundle's executable folder
+#  SET (CMAKE_INSTALL_NAME_DIR @executable_path/../../../src/core)
+ENDIF (APPLE)
+
+#note for tests we should not include the moc of our
+#qtests in the executable file list as the moc is
+#directly included in the sources
+#and should not be compiled twice. Trying to include
+#them in will cause an error at build time
+
+#No relinking and full RPATH for the install tree
+#See: http://www.cmake.org/Wiki/CMake_RPATH_handling#No_relinking_and_full_RPATH_for_the_install_tree
+
+MACRO (ADD_QGIS_TEST testname testsrc)
+  SET(qgis_${testname}_SRCS ${testsrc} ${util_SRCS})
+  SET(qgis_${testname}_MOC_CPPS ${testsrc})
+  QT4_WRAP_CPP(qgis_${testname}_MOC_SRCS ${qgis_${testname}_MOC_CPPS})
+  ADD_CUSTOM_TARGET(qgis_${testname}moc ALL DEPENDS ${qgis_${testname}_MOC_SRCS})
+  ADD_EXECUTABLE(qgis_${testname} ${qgis_${testname}_SRCS})
+  ADD_DEPENDENCIES(qgis_${testname} qgis_${testname}moc)
+  TARGET_LINK_LIBRARIES(qgis_${testname}
+    ${QT_QTCORE_LIBRARY}
+    ${QT_QTTEST_LIBRARY}
+    qgis_app
+    qgis_native)
+  ADD_TEST(qgis_${testname} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/../../../output/bin/qgis_${testname})
+ENDMACRO (ADD_QGIS_TEST)
+
+#############################################################
+# Tests:
+
+ADD_QGIS_TEST(macnativetest testqgsmacnative.cpp)
diff --git a/tests/src/native/testqgsmacnative.cpp b/tests/src/native/testqgsmacnative.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a8a26be88b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/src/native/testqgsmacnative.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+/***************************************************************************
+     testqgsmacnative.cpp
+     --------------------------------------
+    Date                 : January 2014
+    Copyright            : (C) 2014 by Larry Shaffer
+    Email                : larrys at dakotacarto dot com
+ ***************************************************************************
+ *                                                                         *
+ *   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify  *
+ *   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by  *
+ *   the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or     *
+ *   (at your option) any later version.                                   *
+ *                                                                         *
+ ***************************************************************************/
+#include <QtTest>
+#include <QObject>
+#include <QString>
+
+//header for class being tested
+#include <qgsmacappkit.h>
+
+class TestQgsMacNative: public QObject
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+
+  private slots:
+    void testGetRunningAppName();
+};
+
+void TestQgsMacNative::testGetRunningAppName()
+{
+  QgsNSRunningApplication* nsrapp = new QgsNSRunningApplication();
+  QString nsrapp_name( nsrapp->currentAppLocalizedName() );
+  delete nsrapp;
+
+  QCOMPARE( QString( "qgis_macnativetest" ), nsrapp_name.trimmed() );
+}
+
+QTEST_MAIN( TestQgsMacNative )
+#include "moc_testqgsmacnative.cxx"