Our story
In the Southern Lakes of Aotearoa New Zealand something remarkable was set in motion in 2018. Conservation groups across the region began asking a powerful question: Could we achieve more together than we ever could alone?
The answer became the Southern Lakes Sanctuary.
A natural stronghold
Those early conversations saw a unique opportunity. The region’s dramatic geography – towering mountains, deep lakes and wide rivers – not only made it spectacular, but also offered natural barriers against introduced predators. Paired with strategic, coordinated predator control, these natural defences could help create one of Aotearoa’s most secure wildlife sanctuaries.
A 2019 technical report backed this bold thinking. It found that regional-scale protection here could conserve “threatened indigenous wildlife….that has no equal in any other region in New Zealand” (Wildlands, 2020). The report convinced the consortium it was possible – but funding remained the challenge.
From adversity comes opportunity
Tourism, the backbone of Queenstown and Wānaka’s economies, was brought to a standstill by COVID-19. In response, the Government launched a series of recovery initiatives – including Mahi mō te Taiao / Jobs for Nature, administered by the Department of Conservation.
The local trapping consortium was encouraged to think big – not just about biodiversity gains, but also local jobs and economic impact. Their ambitious funding bid succeeded, marking the true launch of Southern Lakes Sanctuary. It united their mahi and laid the foundation for coordinated, landscape-scale conservation.
Looking ahead
At least 38 threatened or at-risk native species call this region home. From the whio (blue duck) and mohua, to rare lizards and insects, these taonga species are clinging on in the face of growing pressure. The work of the Sanctuary helps restore balance to our ecosystems, safeguard our natural heritage and honour the cultural legacy of the land.
Through innovation, collaboration and deep community involvement, we are proving what’s possible when people unite to protect the places they love.
We’re not just responding to a crisis. We’re building a legacy – one trapline, one species, one connected habitat at a time.