LEARNZ Online Field Trips
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari: Boosting kiwi recovery
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari (SMM) is the largest predator-fenced eco-sanctuary in the world. It enables visitors to experience a predator-free environment where native fauna and flora flourishes, and provides an insight into a time long past. SMM is home to some of New Zealand's most endangered species, playing a pivotal role in their conservation. It is also home to a thriving kiwi population of about 2500 birds and performs a major role in boosting other kiwi populations around the country.
Through its education programme, SMM actively engages students nationwide, offering a tangible glimpse into Aotearoa New Zealand’s past and the future vision of a predator-free environment.
Objective
To increase awareness of the importance of taonga species and conservation in general from within the environment of Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, and to experience key parts of the kiwi translocation kaupapa.
Key learning
- Visit Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari and get an overview of its history and importance.
- Explore the need for kiwi translocations.
- See how trained dogs are used to locate kiwi.
- Observe a kiwi health check at the local school.
- Take part in ‘mustering’ kiwi using telemetry equipment as part of the translocation process.
- Hear from ākonga about the impact of local conservation on their lives.
- Learn about the importance of kiwi as a taonga species in relation to te ao Māori.
Click on the Register button above to visit the LEARNZ website and sign up. You can still access the field trip resources after the live event.
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