Posted on 14 December 2022
NBS and the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary Trust have entered into a new sponsorship agreement that will see NBS become a key strategic sponsor of the Sanctuary for the next 3 years.
This year the Sanctuary has been working on a major upgrade to its visitor centre and this significant investment from NBS is helping to finance these works.
Located at the entrance to the Sanctuary, the NBS Visitor Centre is the gateway to the immersive experience that the Sanctuary offers. The upgraded building will feature new displays about the history of the Sanctuary and the conservation work that the Trust carries out. Visitors will also be shown a display celebrating its recent successful sculptor symposium, see “Gordon” the gecko and study native koura (freshwater crayfish) in a tank.
Chief Executive of NBS, Tony Cadigan says
This Sanctuary is one of the most important ecological environments in NZ and to have it right here in our backyard is fantastic. The Sanctuary is vast and already has some important programmes for endangered species that are national success stories. NBS are proud to be associated with this environmental treasure and look forward to seeing the NBS Visitor Centre completed.”
Chief Executive of the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary, Ru Collin, is delighted that NBS has increased its level of sponsorship and says,
“Having NBS as a strategic partner makes a huge difference to the work that we can do here. With the NBS Visitor Centre upgrade nearing its completion, we can welcome our visitors over the summer months and provide an enhanced experience. NBS’ funding also means that we can focus on our long-term conservation goals of introducing more native species into the Sanctuary. We thank NBS very much for their ongoing support and look forward to welcoming visitors from near and far to our Sanctuary during the upcoming holidays.”
The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary is the largest fenced Sanctuary for endangered plants and creatures in the South Island and features an extensive network of walking tracks. It is currently open to visitors from Friday - Sunday, 9am-5pm and from 20 December, open six days Tuesdays to Sundays, 9am-5pm.
Visitors can take the time to explore on their own, or take a guided walk where they can look and listen out for Piwakawaka (fantail), tui, ruru (morepork), koromiko (bellbird), ngirungiru (tomtit), riroriro (grey warbler), kererū (wood pigeon), tauhou (silvereye) and the recently reintroduced tīeke (South Island saddleback) and kākāriki karaka (orange-fronted parakeet).