Orokonui Ecosanctuary - Te Korowai o Mihiwaka

19/06/2026

Remember to visit us this weekend for half price sanctuary access 🌿

Kākā are spreading their wings, Blueskin Rd is open, and we are getting some lovely winter days. To celebrate Orokonui Ecosanctuary will be offering half price sanctuary access this weekend the 20th & 21st of June.

Come explore the sanctuary for half price self guided entry. This time of year there are some great opportunities to see forest birds close up, the forest itself is looking its most lush, and the takahē will be their regular fantastic selves.

The sanctuary will be open its regular hours 9:30am - 4:30pm, while the cafe will be opening early for the weekend 9:30am -3pm. We can't wait to see you there 🌿

17/06/2026

Kākā are spreading their wings, Blueskin Rd is open, and we are getting some lovely winter days. To celebrate Orokonui Ecosanctuary will be offering half price sanctuary access this weekend the 20th & 21st of June.

Come explore the sanctuary for half price self guided entry. This time of year there are some great opportunities to see forest birds close up, the forest itself is looking its most lush, and the takahē will be their regular fantastic selves.

The sanctuary will be open its regular hours 9:30am - 4:30pm, while the cafe will be opening early for the weekend 9:30am -3pm. We can't wait to see you there 🌿

16/06/2026

Have you heard the news? You might have read in todays paper that there are more kākā around Orokonui and the wider city this year and people are starting to notice 🦜📈

A strong breeding season at Orokonui Ecosanctuary for these precious parrots has seen the largest number ever banded in the sanctuary in one season. With 22 wild kākā banded. It took Orokonui 16 years from 2008 to 2024 to band 100 wild born kākā and then in the two seasons since we have banded nearly 40!

With many more young kākā around year on year there is also a marked increase in kākā sightings in the sanctuary. Staff and volunteers have noted a record, 65 individuals sighted In recent surveys. This only counts kākā seen in the sanctuary so the total number in the population is likely much higher. Especially as more kākā spend more time outside the fence, like Pink/Yellow-White which has been in the area surrounding Dunedin Southern Cemetery since March last year. Other kākā have been recorded as semi resident in Brighton, Waverley, The Cove, Mosgiel, and North East Valley.

More kākā does mean there is more responsibility on everyone in the community to be a good neighbour to these returning birds. Here are some simple tips to help support kākā where you live, work, and play:

❌🥜 Avoid feeding them - Feeding kākā in backyards can lead to bad behaviours, disease spread, and malnutrition. Human foods like nuts and bread can even cause death in kākā through metabolic bone disease.

🐀🪤 Support a predator free future - Whether its setting a trap in your backyard or support the mahi of groups like Predator Free Dunedin. These actions go along way to supporting these birds which a very vulnerable when nesting.

🌿🌳 Plant and protect native trees - Kākā love forest so planting and protecting native trees is critical for their habitat. If you don't have room for big trees, small nectar producing planting like harakeke/flax and ngutu kākā/kākā beak can be great choices.

🐈‍⬛🐶 Be a responsible pet guardian - Cats and dogs are amazing companions for people, less so for kākā. Keeping wildlife like kākā safe from pets is an easy way we can make birds like kākā welcome. Be conscious of letting dogs wander in areas of forest especially through summer when kākā might be nesting. Catios and cat fencing are the best way to keep your cat and native wildlife safe, while reflective collars, bells, and curfews can also help.

Check out the Otago Daily Times article using the link in the comments.

12/06/2026

It has been a big year for takahē across the motu including here at Orokonui, with both takahē pairs in the sanctuary raising chicks. All three chicks have done very well and are now as large or in some cases larger than their parents. With support from Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki we now have new names for these takahē juveniles that will connect these birds with our local landscape wherever they end up eventually.

Bennet and Waimarie had two chicks in the upper sanctuary these are now Maraekura who can be distinguished with her leg bands being Green/Green - Black/Metal and Maukoroa with his bands being Orange/White - Red/Metal.

At the valley floor Jessie and Bounty had their first chick now called Omimi, she can be identified with leg bands Orange/Red - Orange/Metal.

The best opportunity to see takahē at Orokonui is to visit the grasslands in the upper sanctuary during the morning. Though the takahē can be spotted roaming the sanctuary at any time of day. The lower pair are a bit more cryptic to spot, but a walk past the tallest tree at the bottom of the sanctuary might result in a sighting.

Photo 1 - Maraekura preening their father Bennet.
Photo 2 - One of this years chicks hanging out with their older sibling Okahau who was released into the Wild in the Rees valley earlier this year.
Photo 3 - One of this years chicks starting to look a bit grown up.
Photo 4 - The upper sanctuary whānau enjoying a sunny Orokonui day in the grasslands.

11/06/2026

Tīramarama Orokonui was magic earlier this year. With the forest of Orokonui lit up with some incredible lanterns and performers from the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival. Their carnival is this weekend Friday 12th and Saturday 13th of June, and it sounds and looks like it will be incredible.

If you came to Tīramarama or thought it looked great then you will want to head along to see more magic of things that rustle in the night. Head to the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival Website for tickets.

📷 Pictures from Tīramarama Orokonui by Amanda konijn & Hayden Parsons

11/06/2026

Great news heading into Friday and then the weekend. Blueskin Rd from Orokonui down to Waitati is now open to all traffic.

We are so grateful to all those who made the extra effort to visit and support the sanctuary during this time. We also can't wait to see everyone else back at Orokonui to explore and get into nature.

Come and see us using any of the three roads from town to get here. The sanctuary is open Thurs-Mon (Closed Tues & Weds) 9:30am-4:30pm, with the Horopito cafe serving great food and drinks 10am-3pm on all open days.

24/05/2026

Since the Coastal Connection trail opened in February, Orokonui Ecosanctuary's café has seen a remarkable surge in visitors, despite roadworks on Blueskin Road, demonstrating the tangible economic benefits and proof that great trail infrastructure is good for local businesses.

The numbers speak for themselves: The first month, the trail has seen an average of over 80 walkers and cyclists per day. Compare that to the 500 daily users on the harbour cycleway bridge, and it's clear; demand for pedestrian infrastructure is very real.
This is what trail investment does for a community.

Planning a visit to Orokonui Ecosanctuary? The Coastal Connection trail is unaffected by the closure, and visitors are welcome to park at Waitati and cycle in, avoiding the detour entirely. If travelling by car, access is via SH88 through Port Chalmers. The sanctuary is open Thursday to Monday. For questions during the road closure, contact [email protected].

Read the full story posted in the comments below.

09/05/2026

Celebrate mothers at Orokonui this Mother's day with free sanctuary entry for all mothers.

Get out into nature an celebrate all mothers including those who feed their chicks grubs. While there is no need to book to visit the sanctuary, we encourage those interested in getting lunch to give the cafe a call to reserve a table.

If you are looking to make it an extra special day we still have a few tickets left for the New Zealand String Quartet available for tomorrow evening. Head to our website to book.

08/05/2026

Only a few days to go until the New Zealand String Quartet is back at Orokonui for their 2026 season. This will be their third visit to Orokonui with each performance being as magical as the last.

There are still some limited tickets available for Sunday night. If you are looking for a great evening out for Mother's Day or just want to take in the art of storytelling through music. Get in quick before we sell out.

Head to our website or follow this link to get yours https://orokonui.nz/new-zealand-string-quartet-returns-to-orokonui/

29/04/2026

A reminder that access to the sanctuary until the 19th of June is via Port Chalmers only.

Visitors from Dunedin city can travel along SH88 to reach the sanctuary, while those coming from Waitati or North of the city can detour via Mt Cargill and Upper Junction Rd.

We encourage everyone to still visit the sanctuary if you can through this period as visitors to the sanctuary and cafe are critical to the work we do to help wildlife thrive.

If you have questions about your visit to the sanctuary feel free to get in touch with us at [email protected].

As always we are so grateful for the incredible support of the community that allows all the work we do 🌿