Dense, undisturbed bush in Stewart Island and other-worldly Fiordland mountains – the deep south is home to some of the most remarkable scenery in the world. Embark on unforgettable experiences to places like Piopiotahi Milford Sound, Te Anau and Queenstown with RealNZ and feel inspired to protect, conserve, and even restore these natural wonders. This note hits strongly for the team at RealNZ, who are passionately driving conservation efforts daily. They consider it a big part of their responsibility as experience providers in New Zealand.
Working with the Department of Conservation (DOC) and other local organisations, RealNZ is focused on protecting the places, experiences and taonga that matter to New Zealanders and people globally. Sometimes the contributions are financial, and other times they’re rolling up their sleeves and putting in the hours. Here are just a few of the RealNZ key conservation projects that are doing real good.
1. Predator-free Rakiura
Stewart Island / Rakiura is a precious habitat for many native species. It plays an important role in some of New Zealand’s biodiversity projects and conservation efforts. Stewart Islands’ beautiful mass of native bush and intriguing coastlines is tucked away, south of Bluff and across the Foveaux Strait. RealNZ is heavily invested in the Predator-Free Rakiura project. Removing non-native predators such as rats, possums and feral cats is the focus of this complex project which should help over 20 threatened species survive. The vision is bright, with the outcome being thriving native wildlife, replenished native forests and plenty of birdsong. The real day-to-day work includes pest trapping, regular checks of the Stewart Island Ferries and rodent bait traps at ferry terminals. Giving the rare and endangered species a chance to thrive on Stewart Island is the ambitious goal that RealNZ are committed to – and they’re in it for the long haul.
2. Cooper Island Restoration Project
A project that sees both RealNZ and DOC ambitiously making Cooper Island one of the most intact ecosystems in the world. The Cooper Island Restoration Project works to remove predators to save and encourage the population growth of spectacular native birds like kākāpo and kiwi. Cooper Island is the third largest island in the whole of Fiordland National Park and lies in the remote Dusky Sound. A RealNZ multi-day expedition into Dusky Sound will get you up close and personal with the fiord and Cooper Island. Discovery Expeditions showcase the need for restoration projects, and RealNZ offers an annual Discovery Conservation Expedition for guests to get their hands dirty and get stuck into conservation. Plus, a portion of the expedition fare goes straight to the Cooper Island Restoration Project. With almost 1,000 traps across the island, setting, checking and rebaiting them is a big task, but one that is completed often on this remote and rugged island. Find out more about the Cooper Island Restoration Project here.
3. Whio / Blue Duck Recovery Programme
Blue Duck / Whio are endemic to New Zealand. This treasured species is becoming rare to see in the wild, and are at risk of becoming extinct. Whio once roamed freely in Fiordland, but for the last few decades, their numbers have steadily declined. Stoats are a major cause of this. The Whio Recovery Programme (spearheaded by DOC) is focused on egg recovery and re-releasing chicks into areas with pest control. Thanks to funding from RealNZ in 2015, three Whio were successfully relocated to a valley near the Routeburn Track, a great new habitat for these young birds. Efforts to increase the population of this beautiful bird are ongoing with yearly financial contributions from RealNZ.
4. Walter Peak Land Restoration Project
Making a big impact on the shores of Lake Whakatipu is the Walter Peak Land Restoration Project. This conservation initiative has been in the works since 2015. RealNZ has been tackling the mammoth task of ridding Walter Peak of wilding pines and other invasive weeds, to restore the natural landscape and help native flora and fauna return and thrive. This project has been no easy feat, with Walter Peak’s remoteness and only being accessible by boat or back country road. Almost 90ha of Wilding Douglas Fir was sprayed and logged, and a further 30ha of land will be cleared of other invasive weeds. Planting native trees is one of the final stages of the restoration project, and was incorporated into the TSS Earnslaw’s 110th birthday celebrations, with RealNZ donating a native tree to Walter Peak on behalf of every guest who cruised during the birthday week. With schemes like this, Walter Peak can be returned to its spectacular natural state.
5. The Kārearea Project
One of New Zealand’s most incredible birds is the kārearea. It’s New Zealand’s only native falcon and can soar through the sky at speeds of up to 200 km/h hunting prey much larger than itself. Though it is a powerful bird, the kārearea population is declining so it’s a threatened species. There’s a significant lack of data on these spectacular birds, so The Kārearea Project aims to gather more intel and discover how best to protect them. This includes understanding the population size and density, their breeding success, and threats to survival. They also keep an eye on breeding pairs that are identified. Not only is there scientific research, but a community engagement with the project working to educate people who live in or visit the Cardrona region where a small kārearea population resides amongst the tussock-filled valley between Queenstown and Wanaka.
This article was created in paid partnership with RealNZ.
