Conservation
protecting and maintaining west coast's natural heritage
In New Zealand, we deeply value our land and its natural wonders. Te Tai Poutini/West Coast region is mostly conservation land, covering 23,000 square kilometers, with 19,000 dedicated to conservation. That's 25% of New Zealand’s conservation land.
Find out more about our region's conservation efforts, how to get involved, and experience the beauty of the West Coast.
conservation on the west coast
Conservation is about taking care of nature—protecting, preserving, managing, or restoring natural environments and the animals and plants that live there. It also involves managing how people use natural resources so that it benefits everyone now and in the future. This holistic approach ensures that our natural environment is preserved for future generations while supporting the well-being of local communities.
The West Coast has ambitious predator-free projects and various initiatives aim to eradicate invasive species like possums, rats, and stoats, which threaten native wildlife. By removing these predators, we can help restore balance to the ecosystem and create a safer environment for our native plants and animals to thrive.
PROJECTS
Here are some of the West Coast conservation projects
from North to South.
The Kawatiri Coastal Trail
The Kawatiri Coastal Trail (KCT) is a 42km Grade 2, family-friendly cycling and walking heritage route linking Buller District communities from Westport to Charleston. It winds through diverse landscapes: estuarine wetlands, podocarp forests, sandy beaches, and rocky coastlines, teeming with birdlife, wildlife, and native plants.
Managed by the Charleston-Westport Coastal Trail Trust, dedicated volunteers spearhead pest control, planting, and weed management. They've already installed over 100 traps, recording significant catches of rats, stoats, weasels, and feral cats, and partnered with conservation groups to plant 2500 native plants along the trail.
Predator Control Partnership
An effort to preserve native wildlife and habitats on the West Coast has received a significant boost through a collaboration between the Motukiekie Wilderness Trust, Paparoa Wildlife Trust and the Rainy Creek Ecological Restoration Trust. The three trusts have joined forces to work more efficiently and effectively in their combined operational areas, which span across key locations in the Paparoa Range and the Victoria Forest Park, covering a total area of over 18,650 hectares.
Previously, each trust had been working independently to remove stoats and rats from large areas of native forest, with the aim of preserving the habitat for indigenous species such as kiwi and long-tailed bats. However, with support from Development West Coast, the three organisations have come together to pilot a new collaborative model. This model has proven to be an effective way of bringing greater efficiency of resources, particularly for project finances and volunteer hours. It has also provided a mechanism for the sharing of knowledge and expertise across the three project areas and has enabled the creation of employment opportunities in the region.
West Coast Penguin Trust
The West Coast Penguin Trust’s vision is: Sea and shore birds, and their habitat across the West Coast Te Tai Poutini, are healthy and thriving.
Their mission is to achieve the Vision through research, education, awareness, advocacy and practical projects, founded on strong science. While focussing on the two penguin species that nest in the region, their work extends to all threatened sea and shore birds and to the Westland petrel or tāiko in particular. Penguins and other sea and shore birds are a treasure or taonga, and the Trust strives to protect and conserve them and the wider marine and coastal environment.
The science underlying the Trust’s work is based on researching and monitoring little penguins or kororā and Fiordland crested penguins or tawaki on land and at sea to better understand and address threats.
Practical projects include penguin protection fencing, awareness campaigns for dog owners and a popular education programme.
Fundraising is a constant for the trust, to maintain the field work, awareness, advocacy and education programmes. Sponsorship and donations are critical to keeping this essential work going and you can help.
Predator Free Te Kinga
The Predator Free Te Kinga Project aims to eliminate possums and reduce other predators across 3,700 ha of Mount Te Kinga, part of a broader predator control effort in the Lake Brunner basin. Mount Te Kinga, surrounded by farmland and lakes, is ideal for a predator-free zone, fortified by natural barriers and trap networks. Collaboration with DOC and OSPRI in nearby ranges helps curb reinvasion.
Local farmers play a crucial role, conducting trapping and monitoring alongside staff, with one even offering a base for project activities. Predator removal will facilitate native plant and animal regeneration, with species like kākā and kiwi expected to thrive. The project aims to make Te Kinga a tourist attraction, contributing to the local economy.
The ultimate goal is to expand the initiative into a comprehensive 'mountains to sea' endeavor, connecting with other projects to achieve a Predator Free New Zealand by 2050.
Waitangiroto Nature Reserve
Witnessing up to 50 pairs of rare Kōtuku, White Heron, nesting at the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve is an unforgettable experience. Operated by the Arnold family, White Heron Sanctuary Tours has been protecting these birds and their habitat for over 30 years.
The Waitangiroto Nature Reserve is administered and protected by the Department of Conservation. Operating with a DOC concession, White Heron Sanctuary Tours (Established 1987) is the original and only tour company to provide tours to the Kōtuku nesting site.
Nowadays they have a network of 150 traps used for humanely eradicating possums, stoats, rats, and mice, all of which could have a devastating impact on this special area if their numbers are not controlled.
Predator Free South Westland
An ambitious five-year project to eliminate possums, rats and stoats from 100,000 hectares of land between the Whataroa and Waiau (Waiho) Rivers, the crest of the Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana, and the shores of the Tasman Sea / Te Tai-o-Rēhua.
The project will create employment opportunities, remove the risk of TB for farmers, and increase birdlife in one of Aotearoa’s most stunning landscapes.
Building on the success of Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP), Predator Free South Westland will use a mix of labor, trapping, baiting, and detection techniques to expand the effort. Natural barriers like mountains, rivers, and lakes will help keep predators out once they're gone.
project early bird
Nestled by Fox Glacier, Lake Matheson isn't just known for its stunning reflections; it's also a conservation success story. Project Early Bird was launched to restore native wildlife to this UNESCO site, once threatened by invasive predators. Today, it has achieved its initial goals.
Over 6 years, volunteers set up 139 DOC 200 traps around the lake. The results have been remarkable. Native birds like Kākāriki are back, and Kiwis have been reintroduced to their ancestral habitat. With birdsong filling the air, the ecosystem is thriving.
The project members are committed to these efforts until handover to Zero Invasive Predators. Project Early Bird invites passionate individuals to join trapping sessions on the first Sunday of every month. More information: Tash and Cliff at 021 880 458 or info@glaciervalley.co.nz
Ōkārito Plant Project
The Ōkārito Plant Project unites tourism, community, and landowners to restore South Westland's natural landscapes. From Whataroa to Fox Glacier, connected waterways like the Ōkārito Lagoon and Lake Matheson are vital. The project's mission is to emphasise nature's interconnectedness from mountains to sea.
The project focuses on four pillars: businesses, visitors, landowners, and the community. It offers various ways to contribute beyond donations, enabling active involvement in planting projects.
The goal is community empowerment for future ecosystem protection. The project aims to revive waterways, wetlands, and forests, fostering biodiversity and wildlife. Collaboration is key to preserving nature's links from source to sea.