Kaikoura Wildlife Centre Trust

The Kaikōura Wildlife Centre Trust is a registered charity managing Project WellBird to implement the Kaikōura Wildlife Hospital centre, to realise the vision of a world-class wildlife hospital and conservation centre in the biodiverse Kaikōura region.

The centre aims to create a stronghold for wildlife rehabilitation in the upper east coast of the South Island, addressing an unfulfilled need and acting as a vital conservation tool. The facility will provide professional wildlife care in a biodiversity hotspot, facilitating a critical environmental and community service.

With an escalating biodiversity and climate crisis the project is focused on species recovery, stabilising population declines, environmental restoration, climate action, sustainability and education.

The multi-disciplinary centre will be dedicated to the rescue, treatment and rehabilitation of injured and ill wildlife for return to the wild. The wildlife hospital will treat injured and ill patients, while recovering patients will be housed in pre-release aviaries, alongside an education visitor centre.

This exciting long-term project is expected to cost $13.3 million, with significant funding, sponsorships and in-kind contributions required to realise construction. We thank you for your support in helping to progress this vision.

The Trust will also utilise a percentage of donations to support interim voluntary wildlife rehabilitation, to aid wildlife patients such as Kaikōura's endangered Hutton's shearwater.