Welcome to our Maunga

Surrounded by one of the world’s longest pest-proof fences, we are New Zealand's largest fenced eco-sanctuary. Our ancient forest is home to many of New Zealand's unique and endangered wildlife. Come and experience the mauri (life force) of our mountain. As seen in the Air New Zealand safety video!

Sanctuary Mountain® Maungatautari is easily accessible to the public. Come and experience for yourself the New Zealand environment the way it used to be – an ancient, vibrant forest alive with native wildlife including many of New Zealand’s rarest and most endangered wild life. Step through the pest-proof gate into another world where ancient New Zealand forest towers majestically above well-maintained walking tracks and the air is filled with birdsong. Enjoy a variety of hikes and bush walks around our eco-sanctuary, take a guided tour or nature walk and learn about why this conservation project is so special.

As seen on the Air New Zealand Safety Video!

Have you travelled with Air New Zealand lately? You've come to the right place! You will have seen us on the latest Air New Zealand safety video. Meet a nationally vulnerable takahē here! Join a Tautari Wetland Guided Tour to meet the family that live in this very special habitat.

Air NZ Safety Video

One of the largest ever kiwi translocation seasons has taken place from March - May, 2024

New Zealand's biggest movement of North Island brown kiwi has taken place, and we couldn't be prouder! This year we moved 222 kiwi to other conservation projects around the North Island. This was a world first in terms of scale and complexity. Working alongside Save the Kiwi, Ngaati Koroki Kahukura, Pukeatua School, recipient sites and recieving iwi, we paved the way for the future of the species.

We are hoping to offer some kiwi encounter experiences in 2025, stay tuned whilst we hatch the plan!

To learn more about what we have been up to, read the most recent news articles:

Waikato Hearld: Balloons over Waikato who? 19 kiwi take to Hamilton skies
Waikato Herald: Kiwi road trip: How to drive with the national bird in the back seat
RNZ: Waikato schoolchildren pitch into major kiwi relocation project

Listen!

The New York Times: The Kiwi Makes a Startling but Careful Comeback

Read our latest news!

Just one hour from

Hobbiton Movie Sets in Matamata
Waitomo Caves
Hamilton Gardens

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FAQs

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Mauri of the Maunga Gala Dinner & Art Auction

With thanks!

Thank you for supporting Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari.

What our visitors say

The team are still absolutely buzzing about their time at Maungatautari! We all learnt SO much – about Rongoā, about the forest and how different plants can heal our ailments – but also how the forest as a whole can heal our inner-selves too. Everybody took something of great value...

Huka Honey Hive, Tāupo

I wanted to email you and tell you how literally amazing our day was and that we were absolutely blown away by the whole experience. You and your team are fantastic [Phil and the educators]. All of the parents who attended raved about the whole day. We are totally happy to fill in the form and I...

Ōhaupō School

A truly spectacular day for me thank you, and trust me I've done some really cool things before but this was right up there. The passion, the pride, the service beyond self and the truly intergenerational and transformational work you and the team have done and are doing is inspirational...

Simon

I’m honestly still smiling after my afternoon on the maunga yesterday, so I had to write and thank you SO MUCH. The team is doing extraordinary work with the whole sanctuary, and to see the kiwi team, volunteers, dogs, it was absolutely amazing. It was very moving to see the kiwi close up....

Katy Scoullar

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Because one THANK YOU is not enough! We felt very honoured and privileged to witness the health check and transfer process of two kiwi yesterday. To be so close to our iconic bird was very surreal for many of our team. Many photos were taken and I’m sure...

Nicola Greenwell

I've hiked many, many forests around New Zealand, but this one hits differently. You just know you're in as native of an NZ forest as it can get, thanks to the predator-proof fence that takes a lot of work and money to maintain. The forest is alive with the beautiful songs of many...

Meggie Tran

A beautiful and peaceful place.

Tony Nicholls

My wife and I live in Miami and visited Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari during a trip to New Zealand a month ago. Our guide was Jenny. We were very impressed with her sincerity as well as your organization and the success of your work.

Anonymous, Miami, USA

If you want to see New Zealand's nocturnal animals, go here. Of course, there are day tours as well as night tours. I went on a night tour and it was great. I was happy to see glow worms, go up to the observatory, and see many stars in the night sky! This is not a zoo, but a conservation...

HyoJin Yang (YY)

Wow wow wow ... I am ashamed to say this was my first visit here. Our company held a 'Bush Boardroom' Strategic Planning day with Nature and Nosh's lovely Kylie hosting us. The walk in transcended any expectation I may have held. The forestry was close to prehistoric and is...

Nikki Close