19th March 2026
Kia ora koutou,
Since 2008, the trust has been restoring native habitat, initially focused on Motupōhue but more recently, increasing our area of protection which now includes Omaui and some of the peninsula between Motupōhue and Omaui.
Our work is paying dividends in the form of healing hills where forest and sea birds are once again thriving, bringing their songs into back yards. A report on our 2025 achievements can be reviewed here
It is our intention to expand our operations over the coming years. It is our ambition to remove invasive predators from the whole peninsula between Motupōhue and Omaui – Tārere ki Whenua Uta – and from around Bluff Harbour. In doing this, we afford protection to the migratory birds that call Bluff Harbour home, and we also remove the ongoing incursion threat to the forests on Motupōhue and Omaui. The broader context is also important. At present, forest birds face huge challenges in spreading their genes between Fiordland, Rakiura and The Catlins. In protecting habitat across the whole peninsula, we are creating an archipelago of biodiversity, helping to create genetic diversity across many species.
I have been working on our Strategic Plan for 2026-2030 that provides more details – you can review this here
That new work will require funding – a considerable amount of funding. But that’s not what this email is about - we must also fund our existing mahi on Motupōhue and Omaui.
One of the huge challenges of conservation funding is that money comes in fits and starts. We lost out on several funding applications late last year and that’s hurting our cashflow right now. The earliest that new funding can hit our bank account is mid August and we currently have a funding runway that takes us to early July. We therefore have a funding shortfall of around $75k if we are to continue business as usual and retain our awesome team of employees. We are very optimistic about the current funding applications so we’re confident that this is just a short-term gap.
Any help you can provide would be amazing – every dollar counts. Please don’t hesitate to call me if you have any questions or need more information.
Ngā mihi nui
David Swann
Trustee & Project Leader
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