Otorohanga Kiwi House

In the summer of 1969/70 in Ōtorohanga, a chemist, a bricklayer and a locum doctor discovered they shared a powerful dream. Realising that vision required years of hard work and determination, particularly from Barry Rowe and Bob Horsfall, supported by a group of like-minded local people. Their goal was the rescue of New Zealand’s unique flora and fauna from the threat of annihilation.

To the eyes of young environmentalists at the time, the destructive process of logging in the region provided a strong spur to action. Autumn skies filled with smoke from the indiscriminate clear-felling of virgin forests added further urgency. The sight of flocks of bewildered refugee kākā circling above a bush camp underlined the need for immediate intervention.

From those beginnings grew an organisation dedicated to the care of the natural environment. Its mission is to inspire people to become kaitiaki — guardians — of the natural world, described as taonga tuku iho, the treasures handed down by ancestors. The corresponding Māori statement of the mission expresses the same call: to inspire and encourage the wider community to act as guardians of the environment and its inherited treasures.

The organisation’s vision is that its taonga — both nature and community — will thrive and grow sustainably within Te Nehenehenui and across Aotearoa. This aspiration is reflected in the Māori wording that speaks of the treasures living and continuing to grow throughout the region and the nation.

Three interconnected goals guide its work. Under the heading of Preservation, the focus is on protecting, restoring and securing indigenous flora and fauna. This includes collaboration with others to breed threatened species for eventual release into the wild, education of local people and visitors about natural treasures and their conservation, and active involvement in off-site conservation projects.

The Community goal emphasises collaboration that enhances the mana of the local community. It aims to build a vibrant and sustainable organisation while acknowledging and integrating scientific knowledge alongside mātauranga Māori shared by mana whenua.

Education forms the third pillar. The intention is to create a unique, world-class conservation and education centre. Through this centre the organisation seeks to inspire and model sustainable practices, reflect the taonga and culture of its people, and open pathways for local individuals to become conservation leaders and participate in conservation research.

Together these elements continue the original dream of rescuing and safeguarding New Zealand’s natural heritage for present and future generations.