Orokonui Ecosanctuary
Orokonui Ecosanctuary | |
---|---|
Te Korowai o Mihiwaka | |
Orokonui | |
Nearest city | Dunedin |
Coordinates | 45°46′03″S 170°35′48″E / 45.7674°S 170.5967°E |
Area | 307 ha |
Operated by | Otago Natural History Trust |
Visitors | 25,000 p.a. |
Open | 2007 |
Status | Open all year |
Hiking trails | Multiple (20 mins - 5 hrs) |
Facilities | Cafe, Visitor Centre |
Website | orokonui |
Orokonui Ecosanctuary, called Te Korowai o Mihiwaka in Māori,[1] is an ecological island wildlife reserve developed by the Otago Natural History Trust in the Orokonui Valley between Waitati and Pūrākaunui, New Zealand, 20 kilometres (12 mi) to the north of central Dunedin.
History and planning
Formation of the trust
The idea of a sanctuary near Dunedin was first discussed in 1982 by New Zealand
Site
The Ecosanctuary is in a north-facing valley comprising about 290 hectares (720 acres) of regenerating native forest.[1] The trust gained the use of the 230 hectares (570 acres) Orokonui Conservation Area 20 km (12 mi) north of central Dunedin. The
In May 2007, the trust announced [11] that the sanctuary might expand in future onto adjacent public land.
Fundraising
A fundraising appeal was launched in November 2005.[12] The trust ran two public fundraising campaigns in 2006-2007: the public were urged to donate their soon-to-be-withdrawn New Zealand
The trust also has a number of mostly Dunedin-based businesses and charities as sponsors.[15][16] The major funders are a local gambling organisation[15][17] and the Otago Regional Council.[15][18]
Construction and development
Enclosure
In December 2006 work started on building a 9 km (5.6 mi) long specialised
Waterways are protected by screened
In February 2007, a donation of a further 57 ha (140 acres) from an adjacent landowner increased the planned 7.2 km (4.5 mi) length of fence by 2 km (1.2 mi).
Earthworks for the fence were finished in May 2007.[10] The fence was completed and the sanctuary officially "closed" on 3 July 2007 in the presence of the Waitati Militia.[21]
Pest eradication
Pest eradication commenced in August 2007 with shooting of goats and 800
Habitat improvement
Other work involves planting of
Species introduction
The trust plans to "bring back to the ecosanctuary native species that would have been there in times past" including kiwi, seabirds, kākāriki, South Island robin, South Island saddleback, kākā, native bats, tuatara and jewelled gecko.[1] In July 2007, four South Island kākā arrived. Initially housed in an aviary, these were the first animals to be introduced to the Ecosanctuary.[25]
The Ecosanctuary is also home to a breeding pair of
Visitor facilities
The promoters of the sanctuary anticipate 25,000 visitors per year.[1][30] Following considerable debate[24] they chose a site at the top of the valley system for visitor facilities, for its potential to attract visitors, its access and perceived low costs and "benefits for management of both ecology and
visitors".
The chosen site "is on a road that is likely to become part of the
Southern Scenic Route, with relatively slow-moving traffic that will
be able to see the visitor centre and stop to investigate",
Land history
The Orokonui Valley was once part of a
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Orokonui EcoSanctuary Resource Consents Application and AEE
- ^ a b c d 'The undefeated champion of a wildlife haven', p28, Otago Daily Times
- ^ 'Aviary idea for acid house' p1, Otago Daily Times 19 July 1983
- ^ 'Aviary proposal abandoned' p1, Otago Daily Times 24 August 1983
- ^ 'Natural history trust formed' p4, Otago Daily Times 8 August 1983
- ^ About us on orokonui.org.nz
- ^ a b c 'Bringing back the natives', p14, Otago Daily Times
- ^ a b c Superb Asset on orokonui.org.nz
- ^ "Visit by the Minister of Conservation on orokonui.org.nz". Archived from the original on 4 July 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2007.
- ^ a b c d e from blueskin.co.nz
- ^ a b c "from blueskin.co.nz". Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2007.
- ^ 'Orokonui appeal takes flight', p1, Otago Daily Times, 3 November 2005
- ^ "Please collect extinct 5 cent coins and bring back the tuatara! on orokonui.org.nz". Archived from the original on 4 July 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2007.
- ^ "Thank You to Our Fundraising Team on orokonui.org.nz". Archived from the original on 4 July 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2007.
- ^ a b c sponsors on orokonui.org.nz
- ^ '$200,000 grant for Orokonui sanctuary', p10 Otago Daily Times 21 August 2006
- ^ '$1m grant for ecosanctuary', p1 Otago Daily Times 12 April 2006
- ^ 'Eco-sanctuary given $1 million boost by regional council', p1, Otago Daily Times 16 March 2006
- ^ from blueskin.co.nz
- ^ "First Major Milestone Achieved for the Orokonui Ecosanctuary on orokonui.org.nz". Archived from the original on 4 July 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2007.
- ^ "Great turnout for the official "sanctuary closing" party on orokonui.org.nz". Archived from the original on 4 July 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2007.
- ^ a b 'Orokonui Ecosanctuary issues poison warning' on blueskin.co.nz, retrieved 08 September 2007
- ^ Andrew J. Tanentzap, Kelvin M.Lloyd, "Fencing in nature? Predator exclusion restores habitat for native fauna and leads biodiversity to spill over into the wider landscape", Biological Conservation, 2017
- ^ a b from blueskin.co.nz
- ^ 'Kaka introduced to Orokonui', p5, Otago Daily Times, 21 July 2007, also readable on orokonui.org.nz Archived 2007-07-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ 'Species Returning Already' on page orokonui.org.nz/ecosanctuary
- ^ Schofield, Edith (24 March 2009). "New arrivals thrill staff at sanctuary". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
- ^ "Tieke released In Orokonui Ecosanctuary". Channel 9 Online, retrieved 2009-05-01.
- ^ "Orokonui takahe chicks victims of flood". 27 November 2018.
- ^ '25,000 visitors aim', p4, Otago Daily Times, 12 September 2007
- ^ 'Fundraising Vital for the Orokonui Ecosanctuary', Otago Daily Times, 4 February 2008, also readable on orokonui.org.nz Archived 2007-07-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "'Blueskin Road proposed for Scenic Highway' on blueskin.co.nz, retrieved 19 November 2007". Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
- ^ a b "The New Zealand Tree Register: OR/1479". Retrieved 7 May 2022.
External links
- Otago Natural History Trust - administrators of the Orokonui Ecosanctuary