Puketahā Wildlife Sanctuary

Puketahā is a planned wildlife sanctuary that is poised to be established within a water catchment reserve in Wainuiomata, New Zealand.

Puketaha is a mountain located in the water catchment area of Wainuiomata. At 558 metres high, the mountain is not extraordinary by any standards, for this part of New Zealand. But the mountain and surrounding area is noted for its pristine environment. For this reason, a proposed sanctuary with a 28-kilometer (17 mi) predator-proof fence, enclosing an expansive 3,313-hectare (8,190-acre) area is being proposed. A 2022 study, commissioned by the Wellington Regional Council and led by Jim Lynch, Zealandia’s founder, confirmed the “technical and practical feasibility” of establishing the sanctuary.

The chosen site boasts one of the largest tracts of virgin podocarp rainforest in the southern North Island, with some trees over 1300 years old. Because this area has never been logged it is adorned with native trees like tawa, hīnau, rātā, mataī, miro, and rimu. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that rimu blankets 85% of the sanctuary, creating a potential haven for critically endangered kākāpō birds, given the crucial role of rimu in their breeding success. Additionally, other endangered avian species such as rowi, kiwi, and hihi could find a new home here.

The proposed sanctuary would be 15 times that of the Zealandia sanctuary in Karori, Wellington. For context, Zealandia was the world’s first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary and today it boasts some of New Zealand’s most rare wildlife.

The area designated for the envisioned sanctuary was safeguarded thanks to its role as a water catchment. Originally slated for logging by the Sinclair family, the land was ultimately acquired from them to thwart deforestation and maintain the area’s pristine condition, thereby safeguarding the purity of its water source.

Ultimately, the establishment of Puketahā would create a region where rare and nearly extinct fauna can flourish while also contributing to the rejuvenation of the surrounding area. Think of it as an anti-extinction zone, fostering the recovery of endangered species. If successful, a greater plan includes similar sanctuaries all over the country to give all endangered species in New Zealand a chance to thrive on the main islands of New Zealand. Currently, many endangered birds that live in the wild, do so exclusively on small offshore islands.