Wellington Natural Heritage Trust

Help us protect iconic native birds in Wellington city by maintaining a safe haven just outside the Zealandia fence.

Wellington

The Trust owns Long Gully Bush Reserve, which runs between Zealandia and South Karori Road. Partnering with neighbours has added other parcels of land to give a total of 107 ha under the Trust's management. This is the largest block of privately-owned protected land in Wellington. The property provides a buffer zone around the sanctuary in which pest animals are intensively controlled.

Considerable progress has been made in achieving the objectives of our management plan – to encourage native forest regeneration and protect native birds spilling over from Zealandia. A comprehensive weeding programme is underway and a network of traps keeps pest animal numbers at low levels.

This effort has been rewarded with a wide range of iconic native birdlife present: tui, kereru, korimako, hihi, tieke, kākāriki and kākā all seen in good numbers.

Your support will help avoid losing the significant gains we've made. The goat-proof fence must be maintained, the weeding continued and the traps serviced.

More about us

The Trust was established in 1999. It owns a 65-ha property next to Zealandia in Wellington. Several neighbours have contributed parts of their properties to be managed together with the Trust’s land. The combined management area totals 107 ha and most of it is protected by QEII Open Space covenants .

The property includes open space of high ecological value and is being intensively managed to provide a safe haven for a range of rare and threatened bird species.