Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust

12/06/2026

John and Helen Cooper are two of our long-time Rotokare Volunteers. These two are both boots on the ground multiple times a week.

They are folks who get in and do all the messy, unglamorous jobs without even being asked.

Trapping, tracking cards, kiwi monitoring, fence checks, and any tech needs- we know we will be covered by these two. If a job needs doing, it gets done.

They are always out rain or shine; nothing puts them off. They will think of the needs of the fence in terrible weather, coming out for fence checks after bad weather spells.

They have a level of dedication that is unparalleled. We would be a bit lost without the Coopers and are very lucky to have volunteers like these two!

09/06/2026

Rotokare night tours are back! This winter, we will be holding our annual night tour season.

This is an amazing opptunity to come and see Rotokare in a different light. We host several different options from July to August.

Follow this link to our Eventbrite to secure your tickets now: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/o/rotokare-scenic-reserve-trust-46064116363

For private night tours get in contact with us via email.

We look forward to another amazing night tour season!

📸This amazing shot is by Brendan Larsen Photography

07/06/2026

🌖 Coming soon... 🌖

04/06/2026

Our educator, Cassie, was part of World Biodiversity Day at Pukeiti last month, joining in for a day full of learning, connection, and biodiversity-focused fun.

It was an amazing day hosted by Taranaki Regional Council's Enviroschools, bringing together schools, educators, and hands-on learning in a beautiful setting.

As always, Lauree from Enviroschools put together an awesome day, with educators from across the region coming together to share their knowledge, experiences, and passion with tamariki.

Cassie taught the kids about the kiwi translocated from Rotokare to the kaitaki, then gave them the chance to ‘track a kiwi’ using a telemetry kit as they hunted for the student hiding with the transmitter. It was a fun, hands-on way to bring conservation learning to life.

It’s truly special to come together and pass on knowledge in spaces like this. A huge thank you to everyone who made it possible, and to the tamariki who showed up curious, engaged, and ready to learn!

02/06/2026

What a Year! Last Monday, we wrapped the final kiwi translocation of the season.

Taranaki Kohanga Kiwi at Rotokare, the partnership between Rotokare and Taranaki Kiwi Trust, translocated 56 kiwi from Rotokare to other sites.

This has been the partnership’s biggest year yet. Across five translocations, 56 birds were moved off-site. This season was made possible by the hard work and dedication of incredible volunteers.

Volunteers were out stomping the lines and tracking kiwi, then getting down in the swamp to pull birds out, cook lunches, and even help transport kiwi.

There’s something truly special about this work, and the passionate people who give their time and energy to these projects are nothing short of inspiring.

Thank you all so much, aroha nui.

Picture one: The team on the first day of Kiwi catch week! Jenny Oakley
Picture two: Volunteer Paul and staff Fiona and Jess load kiwi to be transported to the release site. Jenny Oakley
Picture three: Volunteer Jenny Kerrisk holds Tu, one of the first monitored birds to have their transmitters cut.
Picture four: Dog teams getting ready to head out into the field and sniff out some kiwi! Jenny Oakley

28/05/2026

Our halo project is creating a safer space for wildlife, and outcome monitoring helps us understand how this work is supporting species beyond the reserve.
Each year, we carry out Halo outcome monitoring to help us understand what’s changing in the halo.

The halo covers 4,700 ha of intensively trapped farmland. This area plays an important role in supporting the reserve by helping reduce pressure on the fence and providing a safer space for sensitive species that move beyond Rotokare into the surrounding farmland.

Five-minute bird counts give us valuable insight into which bird species are using this space. The latest monitoring is now underway, and results are still to come. These counts help us build a clearer picture of how the halo project is supporting wildlife movement beyond the reserve and into the surrounding farmland.

A huge thank you to our volunteer bird counters and to Taranaki Regional Council for supporting this monitoring mahi.

28/05/2026

It was so great to have Rochelle along at Rotokare!

Taranaki Kōhanga Kiwi at Rotokare (our partnership with Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust) are very thankful for the ongoing support and sponsorship we receive from VetPath NZ.

Each year we take samples from our translocatable kiwi, and the Waikato based business processes these in their lab to check for internal parasites. This ensures our kiwi are fit and healthy prior to being released in their new homes.

A couple of weeks ago Rochelle Keatinge, one of their staff members, visited the kōhanga the morning before kiwi were transferred to Taranaki Maunga. I think you will agree the look on her face says it all! She went home to the Waikato and told her colleagues it was the best day of her life.

You can check out VetPath's services here https://www.vetpath.co.nz/

26/05/2026

What an incredible day for our Rotokare Mentor Ambassadors, who had the special opportunity to head out and explore the Ngā Motu Islands with Matt and Rebekah from Department of Conservation , and Emily from Wild for Taranaki

It was a truly special trip, filled with unforgettable wildlife sightings, including two taroa (mollymawk), which was such an exciting highlight for everyone on board.
The ambassadors also spotted several seals, and while they quickly became familiar with their unmistakable smell, seeing the cute pups made the experience even more memorable.

While this may look a little different from the mentors’ usual classroom, moments like these are such a powerful way to deepen their connection with conservation and inspire the next generation of passionate kaitiaki.

23/05/2026

We are incredibly grateful to OMV for their latest support of Rotokate Scenic Reserve Trust. This generous contribution also marks 15 consecutive years of standing alongside us, believing in our work, and helping make it possible.

Over the years, OMV’s generosity has played an important role in our journey, helping fund the construction of the ridge walk, supporting the translocations of tīeke, popokatea, and hihi, and contributing to our ongoing biodiversity management.

Their longstanding support has meant so much to us. Thank you, OMV, for your generosity, commitment, and for being such an important part of our story.

20/05/2026

Meet one of Rotokare’s cheekiest locals, the toutouwai (North Island robin)!

Naturally curious and full of character, these little birds are often spotted along the tracks and may even follow you on your walk through the sanctuary.

When the trust was formed, toutouwai were sighted at Rotokare, but numbers were small. In 2017, more were brought in to both boost numbers and diversity. They are now one of our most commonly spotted manu.

Have you seen a Toutouwai at Rotokare?

Next time you visit Rotokare Scenic Reserve, keep an eye out, you might just make a new feathered friend.