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Conservation Education Programme

In 2024 we connected with over 4700 students through our Conservation Education Programme. This ranged from preschoolers to university students. Groups travelled varying distances, ranging from walking up the hill from Pukeatua, visiting us on the way to camp from Auckland or incorporating us on their international visit from Japan, America, Canada or Australia....

New Kiwi Experience Tours

Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is launching a new, immersive Kiwi Experience Tour which will allow the public to get up close to kiwi at the sanctuary for the first time as part of the country's largest kiwi translocation project, which Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari undertakes in partnership with mana whenua and Save the Kiwi....

Christmas Newsletter 2024

Warmest wishes for a safe and happy festive season from the Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari team....

The Tale of Tracking Taeatanga

This is 10-year-old kākāpō Taeatanga, found in good condition after recently taking an unplanned break from technology. Last month, as he continued with his nightly nocturnal activities, he was oblivious to the fuss he caused when our team of biodiversity rangers were unable to track him due to a failed transmitter....

2023 - 2024 Annual Report

E Kīngi Tūheitia, okioki rā hei whetu, tūramarama i te kauwhanganui, i te kauwhanga roa o te ariki, haere, haere, haere atu raa E te kuini, Ngāwai hono i te pō E taku arikinui, me karamihi atu ki tōu nohonga i runga i te ahurewa tapu a ō tūpuna, hei Kuini Māori, hei kuini o Aotearoa, rirerire hau, Paimarire Kīngi Tūheitia ki te rangi Ngāwai hono i te pō i te whenua Tīhei Mauriora!...

Volunteer Voices

Volunteer Voices...

Kākāpō One-Year Anniversary

Over the last year, a small number of male kākāpō have been helping us, and the Kākāpō Recovery Team to learn whether a larger population could one day thrive in a fenced sanctuary on mainland Aotearoa....

Gala Dinner

On the evening of June 5th, 2024, our second Mauri of the Maunga Gala Dinner and Art Auction was held at the Sir Don Rowland's centre, set in the stunning surrounds of the Waikato's Mighty River Domain at Lake Karāpiro....

Limited Edition James Ormsby

James Ormsby (Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato, Te Arawa, Katimana) Maungatautari (Blue in Green), 2024 Limited edition of 10...

Art Auction Live on Art + Object

We are honoured in 2024 to present the works of the following artists who support the tremendous mahi required to protect the kākāpō, a rare and precious taonga!...

History Book

Since our last update in the December issue of the Maunga Matters newsletter our group has continued to capture some wonderful stories from volunteers and supporters about the Maungatautari project, especially in the early years. The closing date for receiving the stories has just passed.  At that time we had reviewed our objectives and decided to go ahead with a modest self-published book of volunteer stories because there was no funding available. However at our l...

New experience! Mirimiri Traditional Māori Massage

Experience the healing touch of Jamie Hiriaki, a skilled massage practitioner specialising in Maori massage techniques, including Romiromi and Mirimiri. Nestled in the tranquil shadow of Maungatautari, Jamie provides a sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation through her practice....

The New York Times!

By Pete McKenzie, May 17th, 2024...

Our Education Programme in Te Whakatika

The Aotearoa New Zealand Professional Practice Journal for Outdoor and Environmental Learning. Issue 42 Autumn 24...

Fungal Foray on RNZ

Could the answer to the global problem of antibiotic resistant bacteria be in our backyard?...

Keeping up-to-date with kākāpō

Bunker, Ōtepoti, Tautahi and Taeatanga continue to provide great data and insights as part of the fenced habitat trial at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari....

Dog Squad

DOC Kiwi indicator dog team, Tom and Leroy are at Sanctuary Mountain® Maungatautari with Biodiversity Ranger, Craig Montgomerie, searching for kiwi....

Kiwi Translocation Season 2024

One of the biggest kiwi translocations took place between March and May in 2024. Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is a source population for the North Island brown kiwi of the western taxon....

Announcing our Gala Dinner Menu

Get excited! The Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari - Mauri of the Maunga Gala Dinner menu for 2024 is being announced!...

Art Auction - Mauri of the Maunga Gala Dinner & Auction Event

Curator Kate Darrow has extensive experience in the visual arts in Aotearoa, working with a wide network of artists and galleries. She has previously worked in the Public Gallery sector including the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki and City Gallery, Wellington. Kate was the founding curator for MESH Sculpture Hamilton and has worked on projects for several Secondary Schools in the Waikato, commissioning artworks and acting in an advisory role. She has a BA in Art History from the University of...

Gala Dinner Tickets Close on 28th May

This year will see us raising funds to support the conservation of New Zealand’s unique wildlife through the restoration work of the world’s largest fenced sanctuary.We’re recognised both nationally and internationally for the success of its pest management programmes; keeping predator species outside the sanctuary fence is what they do. The gala is focusing on funding some of the bigger challenges the sanctuary is facing, such as:Assisting the pest management programmes throughout the res...

Kākāpō six months on

It has been six months since kākāpō were first introduced to Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari. We're learning a lot from this trial in our quest to find new, suitable habitat for kākāpō until such time that they can safely return to their natural ranges throughout a predator-free Aotearoa New Zealand....

My Giving Circle

Together, My Giving Circle is giving $1, 000, 000 to charities this year!...

GET EXCITED! SAVE THE DATE!

Join the Sanctuary Mountain® Maungatautari team and indulge in a delicious 3-course meal, enjoy stunning entertainment and, of course, participate in the much-coveted art auction. All in support of the largest fenced sanctuary in Aotearoa, the place that 2,500 kiwi call home and the safe haven that is trialing the relocation of kākāpō on the mainland....

Kiwi road trip: How to drive with the national bird in the back seat

New Zealand's largest kiwi translocations is underway in Waikato. But just reporting on it wasn't enough for Waikato Herald journalist Danielle Zollickhofer: She rolled up her sleeves and got involved herself....