AUCKLAND, Today: Rees Valley just got a few special new residents—eighteen takahē, some of Aotearoa’s most treasured species. This release marks the climax of a major project funded by RealNZ’s annual Conservation Ball.
Last September’s Conservation Ball at RealNZ’s Walter Peak raised over $150,000. These funds supported the takahē’s translocation to Rees Valley and protected the area from predators, in collaboration with the Southern Lakes Sanctuary, the Department of Conservation, Ngāi Tahu, and other partners.
The release yesterday was a key moment for conservation in the Southern Lakes region, a testament to the immense effort by many dedicated teams. RealNZ CEO Dave Beeche expressed pride in supporting this initiative.
“RealNZ’s purpose is to help the world fall in love with conservation, and our yearly Conservation Ball is a fantastic opportunity for our wider community and partners to support important projects in Aotearoa,” says Beeche.
“It’s incredible to see the real-world impact this funding and our conservation work represents – welcoming this important taonga species to the Rees Valley is an outstanding achievement from a lot of hard work from a lot of people.” – Dave Beeche
“It’s incredible to see the real-world impact this funding and our conservation work represents – welcoming this important taonga species to the Rees Valley is an outstanding achievement from a lot of hard work from a lot of people.”
The 2023 Conservation Ball also made significant strides, raising $175,000 to support the upcoming translocation of the first pairs of kākāriki karaka to Pukunui Anchor Island later this month.
RealNZ’s commitment to conservation earned them accolades at the 2024 TIA Awards, snagging the Environment award and the Supreme Tourism Business of the Year title. Beeche credits these achievements to strong partnerships and the dedicated efforts of RealNZ’s staff.
“It’s a privilege for RealNZ to work with DOC to identify key conservation projects in the lower South Island to support, whether it’s through day-to-day trapping efforts with our on-the-ground teams, or fundraising events like the Conservation Ball,” says Beeche.
“It’s work we’re very proud to be part of, and it remains at the core of everything we do.”
- Discover more about RealNZ’s conservation efforts here
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