OUR WORK
Restoring the Abel Tasman together
We’re working with Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust, the Department of Conservation (DOC), iwi (Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama and Te Ātiawa) and the community to restore the park’s rich wildlife and ecology. Together we’re getting rid of pests and weeds, bringing back native birds and bush, and inspiring a culture of care for Abel Tasman.
We believe that, with appropriate action, we can set the park on a path to recovery and enable its ecological fortunes to be reversed within the next three decades. Our mission is to secure, restore and future proof the ecology of the park by 2042, the 100th anniversary of the park’s opening.
OUR MISSION
Secure
Protecting existing ecological values
Restore
Restoring specific ecosystems and re-introducing birdlife
Future Proof
Embedding a passion for ongoing conservation
Weed species identified
Rats trapped
Stoats & weasels trapped
RESTORE
Bringing back the wildlife
We’re bringing the birdsong back to Abel Tasman. What once was a silent forest is now, in parts, a chorus of chattering native birds. Since 2014 kākāriki, kākā, tieke/saddleback and pāteke/brown teal have all been translocated into the park. We’re also looking out for existing populations of native bats, giant land snails, tui, bellbirds, weka, weta and more.
As we reduce the numbers of rats, stoats and possums we expect to expand the range of the birds living in the higher reaches of the park (like toutouwai/robin and titipounamu/rifleman), to the coast – via predator free corridors. One day soon, we hope to return species like whio/blue duck and mohua to the mainland and tuatara to Tonga Island.
Kakariki released
Kaka released
Natives planted at Hadfield Clearing
Northern Rata planted
FUTURE PROOF
Inspiring care for the Abel Tasman
An ecological restoration project of this scale requires the support of a whole community. We’re fortunate to have incredible backing from iwi, local businesses, residents, bach owners and schools.
We’re passionate about getting more people involved in conservation and caring for the park, especially the next generation. We offer education programmes and volunteer opportunities, and have developed a unique info app specifically for the park. If you love the Abel Tasman and would like to give something back, get in touch – there are lots of ways you can help.
Students engaged in education programme
Abel Tasman Phone App downloads
WIFI spots operating
“Personally, I have been really blown away by the reaction to this project. This was something I was passionate about and as soon as you start to talk to people you see a mixture of excitement and disbelief I think, in their eyes. Disbelief that anybody would put up this sort of resource and disbelief that we are going to take a long term view of it.”
Devon McLean, Project Janszoon director
