16 September 2004

Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Celebrates Land Transfer

On 15 September at Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wellington City Council and the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Trust, celebrated the transfer of the land that the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary occupies. The 252 hectares of land is now owned by Wellington City Council, having been transferred from Greater Wellington Regional Council via the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Trust.

Margaret Shields, Regional Council Chairperson, presented Mayor Kerry Prendergast and Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Chairman Richard Bentley a plaque to commemorate the land transfer.

The Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Trust Chairperson Richard Bentley said “It is through the support of Wellington City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, the Department of Conservation, our wider community and our many sponsors that the Sanctuary today has turned into an ongoing reality. We instinctively see the City as our most important stakeholder. It is my personal view that Wellington needs to secure the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary as the pre-eminent New Zealand sanctuary. We have the fundamental advantage of a city location, a track record working with Department of Conservation, and the huge volunteer support from neighbouring suburbs.

The Sanctuary now attracts around 45,000 visitors a year. School children from all over New Zealand visit us. New tours and visitor experiences have been developed, and the Sanctuary is increasingly gaining an international reputation in the fields of eco-restoration and of course in eco-tourism.”

Land at Karori Reservoir was first used for public water supply in 1874 by Wellington City Council. It was owned subsequently by the Wellington City and Suburban Water Supply Board, then the Wellington Regional Water Board and finally by Greater Wellington Regional Council. The land ceased being used for water supply purposes in 1997 and has now been transferred back to Wellington City Council.

Photo: Major Kerry Prendergast, Regional Council Chairperson Margaret Shields QSO and Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Chairperson Richard Bentley with the plaque that commemorates the transfer of land from Greater Wellington Regional Council to Wellington City Council.

ENDS

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