Where the wild breathes again
Across 850,000 hectares of mountains, valleys, rivers and lakes, Southern Lakes Sanctuary is uniting people and place in one of Aotearoa’s most ambitious conservation efforts.
Together, we are protecting biodiversity on a landscape scale and creating a future where native species can flourish.
Restoring nature at scale
Join the movement protecting nature in the Southern Lakes
Southern Lakes Sanctuary is uniting conservation groups, community and business in a mission to restore biodiversity across the Queenstown Lakes District – we’d love you to join us.
Takahē sightings
Heading to the hills? You might just spot a takahē in the Rees Valley!
Latest news from the Sanctuary
Stories from the rugged peaks, valleys and waters of the Southern Lakes — discover progress, people and projects driving biodiversity, native species recovery and conservation action.
Historic takahē photograph links past and future conservation efforts
Southern Lakes Sanctuary has taken guardianship of a rare piece of New Zealand conservation history – an original takahē photograph dating back to the 1940s – now on loan as a result of a remarkable chain of stewardship spanning generations.
The image traces its origins to one of the most significant moments in Aotearoa’s conservation story: the rediscovery of the takahē in 1948.
Whio return to the Rees Valley for first time in 50 years
A sighting of two whio (blue duck) in the Rees Valley is being celebrated as a significant milestone for conservation efforts in the Southern Lakes region.
Whio have not been recorded in the area since the 1970s. Their return is being seen as a strong indicator that large-scale predator control across the valley is improving the outlook for native wildlife.
Project Update VIII Jan 2026
It’s been another significant chapter across the Sanctuary, with momentum building in every corner of the landscape. From mohua released in the Matukituki to takahē chicks on the ground following their return to the Rees Valley, the signs of recovery are tangible and deeply encouraging.
Alongside these milestones, our predator control footprint continues to expand and our hub partners are scaling up monitoring and innovation. This work is only possible because of the collective effort behind it – community groups, iwi, landowners, volunteers, funders and supporters all playing their part in restoring biodiversity across the Southern Lakes.