Date: 26th February 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.
Date: 4th February 2026
Arrowtown and the surrounding Coronet Face area are seeing encouraging signs for local biodiversity, thanks to ongoing work between Whakatipu Wildlife Trust and Southern Lakes Sanctuary – and an army of volunteers and organisations.
Over 4,500 possums have been caught, and anecdotally locals are reporting more native bird life – trends that upcoming biodiversity monitoring should hopefully confirm.
Date: 3rd December 2025
What began as a bold response to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic has grown into one of the Southern Lakes’ most inspiring conservation success stories.
GSD Workforce – the conservation project delivery agency founded by AJ Hackett Bungy NZ – has officially begun its next chapter under the umbrella of Southern Lakes Sanctuary.
Date: 21st October 2025
As the days grow longer and the landscape bursts into life, spring is the perfect time to give back to nature – starting right at home.
Our backyards, gardens, and green spaces can be powerful pockets of conservation. Whether you live in town, near the bush, or beside the river, your actions can support native wildlife and contribute to a healthier environment.
Date: 15th October 2025
A new chapter has begun for the West Matukituki Valley, with the joyful return of mohua (yellowhead) to the forests of Mt Aspiring National Park.
Once common throughout Aotearoa, these bright, lively songbirds are now one of our rarest native forest birds – but thanks to years of collective effort, they’ve found a new home in the Southern Lakes.
Date: 27th August 2025
Protecting kea is no easy task — their fearless curiosity puts them at constant risk, even from the very traps designed to save them. Now, high in the Remarkables, new AI-powered technology is changing the game. These smart traps can target predators like possums and rats while keeping kea safe, giving Aotearoa’s alpine parrots a real chance to thrive.
Date: 7th August 2025
We run remote cameras as part of our ongoing support for the Takahē Recovery Programme. These help to monitor predator presence in the area but this time, the lens caught more than just mustelids – it captured a weka! To our knowledge this is the only record of weka in this part of Otago in a very long time and it sure has us excited.
Date: 17th July 2025
It has been a huge six months across the Sanctuary — and none of it would be possible without the incredible mahi of our partner groups. Together, we’ve been working across some of the most breathtaking corners of the Southern Lakes, welcoming new supporters, expanding our impact and even returning takahē to the Rees Valley.
Date: 12th February 2025
A group of 18 rare takahē took their first steps into the wild in the spectacular Rees Valley—marking a powerful moment not just for the species, but for conservation across the Southern Lakes region.
Date: 5th February 2025
Over the past 15 months, a collaborative predator control effort in the Makarora area has helped reduce rat and stoat numbers, offering hope for native birdlife. The work of Southern Lakes Sanctuary, DOC and Forest & Bird has already seen success, with a whio family and five ducklings spotted on the Young River.
Date: 5th February 2025
Thanks to lottery funding, the Sanctuary has undertaken work to protect not only takahē habitat, but over 15 threatened taonga species in the region, including kea, rock wren (pīwauwau), and the wrybill (ngutu pare).
Date: 29th January 2025
“On Our Changing World, Claire Concannon heads to the Wye Valley just outside Queenstown. The Southern Lakes Sanctuary project is… »