Stewart Island, which is southwest of Bluff, is one of the wildest places in Aotearoa New Zealand and a hub for biodiversity. The Rakiura National Park covers 85 percent of the island.
The Halfmoon Bay Habitat Restoration project, led by the Stewart Island / Rakiura Community and Environment Trust, is developing an open sanctuary covering a 210 hectare area in the Halfmoon Bay township. The project’s aim is that taonga species, such as the Kororā/ Little Blue Penguin, can flourish and other bird species - once native to the island - can eventually be reintroduced.
“Support from WWF-New Zealand’s Fund means we’ve been able to maintain our trap network, prevent any growth in population of invasive species, and safeguard the unique, endangered fauna on Stewart Island,” says the group’s chair Shona Sangster.
Volunteers and staff are involved in trapping pests, monitoring birdlife, weeding and revegetation work. The team manages threats to native flora and fauna by controlling the number of possums, rats and feral cats. Thanks to the team’s trapping efforts, the number of rats in the project area has fallen to very low numbers.
The Halfmoon Bay Habitat Restoration project has also brought the community together with more than 10 percent of the island's population involved. The Trust achieves strong community engagement by recruiting volunteers, running weed control events, nursery workdays and workshops.
The project is one of the initiatives WWF-New Zealand, in partnership with the Tindall Foundation, supported through its Community Conservation Fund.
The WWF-New Zealand Community Conservation Fund supports communities to run projects that conserve and restore Aotearoa’s natural environment, while also educating New Zealanders about its importance.