In November 2023 we completed our fourth bird count on the Rees River. We spotted all the species we expected to see (results below) but there was one that had only ever been counted on one previous survey... the gorgeous little wrybill/Ngutu pare[/birds/wrybill/]. This braided river bird is a small species of plover with an unusually curved bill and only breeds in the South Island of New Zealand. They are very vulnerable to predation, therefore are one of our target species to protect under the RDWT Braided River Project - a network of 600 traps surrounding the river network which aim to suppress numbers of rats and stoats. The crew were determined to find at least another wrybill this year.

A few days ago, Cardrona Alpine Resort was the venue for a very successful five day workshop on conservation standards. Organised by the Southern Lakes Sanctuary (we are one of the founding members), it attracted a few dozen people from our region, representing over 20 different groups. With some excellent guest speakers, the most important outcome of the week was the open communication, team and relationship building that occurred. A highly successful event that will have long term benefits for our conservation work.

We continue to roll out the cages. Once the whole system is fully functional, we have the flexibility to move the cages to different sites, as long as the site can get a signal to or from one of the two antennae.

Our new feral cat trapping programme has started. We had to wait several weeks for some of the electronic components to arrive from China. The first piece of work has been to install two antennae near Glenorchy; these will communicate with a hub on each of 40 cages. The cages will be placed in position over the next few weeks when they are ready. The photo shows our team posing by one newly installed antenna.

The $85,000.00 we were awarded by IMPACT 100 will be invested in equipment and labour costs to start feral cat trapping in and around the Dart and Rees rivers near Glenorchy. This project will start later in the year.

We are delighted to report that we have been awarded $85,000.00 from IMPACT 100. The announcement was made in November at an awards dinner in Queenstown. $100.000.00 was given to an excellent charity, the Pivotal Point Charity Trust, worthy winners of the top prize. We were honoured to come second to them.

The overall mission of the Wakatipu Community Foundation is to grow local philanthropy. The IMPACT 100 model fits perfectly within this mission. IMPACT 100 aims to empower women to see themselves as philanthropists and overcome the barriers women have faced in this arena. IMPACT 100 is designed for transformational grant-making within local communities.

We are delighted to report that Simplicity, a non-profit and low fees KiwiSaver fund has kindly donated $36,000.00 to us for the second year in a row. These funds will continue to support our work.

This link takes you to a DOC website with information and links that explain Jobs For Nature.

$416,000 is being invested in additional stoat, possum and feral cat control in these two valleys on the north west side of Lake Wakatipu. This control work is estimated to employ six people across three years helping protect some of the country’s most vulnerable native species.

We are delighted to be one of the local conservation groups that are foundation members of the Southern Lakes Sanctuary.

We were impacted by COVID in 2020. Two regular sponsors were unable to support us - leaving a gap in our budget. I am delighted to say we were able to fill it with support from three new sponsors