Karori Wildlife Sanctuary - What's New

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April/May 2003

Contact Energy Customers Excited by Sanctuary Development

More than 400 people attended Contact Energy's customer open day at Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, where Contact Energy Chief Executive Steve Barrett unveiled new bird hides and floating islands.

"We're very excited about the developments along the Contact Energy Wilderness Trail," Steve Barrett says. "It was great to be able to show our customers some of the exciting developments in the Sanctuary."

(From left) Steve Barrett (Contact Energy), Terry Hemmingsen (Lions) and Richard Bentley (Karori Wildlife Sanctuary)

Mr Barrett paid tribute to the role that the Lions Clubs of the Wellington Region, the Charles Alexander Fleming Trust and the Fleming Family had in the construction of the bird hides and the floating islands.

The November open day coincided with nesting for many of the birds. This meant that open day visitors could observe a very active time at the Sanctuary. The Contact Energy Wilderness Trail is where most of the birds are released, nest and roost.

Mr Barrett said that Contact Energy is very pleased to be associated with the Sanctuary. "On the day we were able to witness the progress that the Sanctuary is making. The bird-life and habitat that have been fostered are truly exceptional," he said.

"Many of our staff have enjoyed volunteering their time to work on projects like feeding the kaka, building nesting boxes, and becoming Sanctuary guides."

On the day Mr Barrett told the group that the Sanctuary project is about more than simply creating a nice place to visit.

Contact Energy customers check out the new hides

"The Sanctuary has a serious conservation and scientific purpose. Work is to be done in the Upper Lake area of the Sanctuary on the restoration of native fish and insects and the creation of an authentic New Zealand bush habitat. Sites of historical interest are also to be restored," Mr Barrett said.

Contact Energy customers responded overwhelmingly to the company's invitation to attend the open day, with more than 3,000 customers wanting to attend. Given the success of the event, Contact Energy intends to organise more events in the future.

Invitation to Saddleback Evening
The Sanctuary would like to invite all saddleback patrons and donors, and people who wish to become saddleback patrons or donors to an evening to hear all about the progress of the saddleback that were released in the Sanctuary.
When: Wednesday, 14 May 2003 at 7pm
Where: Lecture Theatre 4, Wellington College of Education, Karori (entrance off Campbell Street).
RSVP by Friday, 2 May 2003 to Fiona Paine ph 04 920 9200, fax 04 920 9000 or email rsvp@sanctuary.org.nz

School holiday hours
Open every day
Mon - Fri: 10am to 4pm
Sat, Sun and public holidays: 10am to 5pm
More on visiting the sanctuary

Kaka Chick Progress Update

All Kaka chicks have now fledged the nest. Kaka chicks: out of the nest

Sanctuary Conservation Scientists, Raewyn Empson, Denise Fastier and Photographer, John Shorland have combined their skills to provide some wonderful pictures and information on the kaka chicks that hatched in the Sanctuary.

See the kaka chick pages for details and pictures on their progress:

from eggs to fluff,
fluff to feathers
less fluff - more feathers
Feathers to flying

Chicks due to fledge News release

This latest photo by John, shows the fledged chick. Raewyn comments " The chicks are very clumsy and vulnerable when they first fledge. They will remain near the nest site for at least the first week."

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