Why is a sanctuary needed?

 New Zealand has been isolated as a landmass for around 80 million years ago and in that time developed a unique fauna based on birds, reptiles and insects. This fauna was ill-equipped to deal with the changes brought about by the arrival of people all the animals they introduced to the country. Many species became extinct and others were only safe on offshore islands, free from mammalian predators and competitors. 

Keeping our unique wildlife only on remote offshore islands means we also lose connection with them.  Projects like the Brook Sanctuary can provide pest-free ‘oases’ on the mainland and bring our wonderful birds and reptiles back - into our lives and into a protected place where they can once again flourish.

What will it cost?

The key element, 14km of pest-proof fencing, will cost between $2.6 and $3.2 million dollars. About $1 million of this is materials and the balance is equipment hire and labour for which we will look to local companies and individuals for help. To ensure the project can be sustained long-term we will require further initial funding to develop visitor infrastructure and provide for staffing, giving a total of $4,150,000.

How does the pest-proof fence work?

Pest-proof fencing in New Zealand was developed independently by two groups, each of whom did considerable testing of the abilities of different pests to climb, jump or dig!  Their designs were similar, a fine mesh too small for even baby mice to squeeze through dug slightly into the ground to prevent burrowing; deer fence in height to prevent jumping over; and with a curved metal cap on top to prevent any animal climbing over. One of these initial groups and a new company are in the business of building such fences.

The key thing that the fence does is allow a sanctuary to achieve ‘zero pests’ at which point all the species that once lived at the site can theoretically be returned. In the case of the Brook the list includes kiwi, yellowheads, saddlebacks, burrow-nesting seabirds, tuatara, bats and even kakapo.

How will the Sanctuary be sustained long-term?

The Sanctuary’s business model has two key elements. The first is to minimise overheads through having only a small staff, making full use of training programmes and volunteers and working in partnership with other organisations. The second is to create a year-round attraction with a range of accommodation opportunities to suit the widest possible range of visitors. A special element planned is the construction of a low-impact lodge in the interior of the site where visitors would be met by a guide who would cook their meals and take them on a night-time tour. They would then wake up to a dawn chorus currently only experienced on some remote offshore islands.