Environmental Organisations

Ministry for Primary Industries-Fisheries, Kaikōura

Fisheries New Zealand works to ensure that fisheries resources are managed to provide the greatest overall benefit to New Zealanders. Our focus is the sustainability of New Zealand’s wild fish stocks, aquaculture, and the wider aquatic environment, now and for future generations. Check out links below to learn about local rules and restrictions in place to protect our fisheries.

Department of Conservation, Kaikōura

The Department of Conservation is the government agency in NZ charged with conserving New Zealand's natural and historic heritage. Their vision is for NZ to be the greatest living space on earth and means ensuring that New Zealanders gain a wide range of benefits from healthy functioning ecosystems, recreation opportunities, and through living our history. They have a range of volunteer opportunities available and are a great source of information about our environment.

Forest & Bird, Kaikōura Branch

Forest & Bird NZ is an independent conservation organisation that protect's wildlife and wild paces, on land and in the sea. They rely on support from members and supported through membership fees, regular giving, donations and bequests. Their branch committees and members coordinate and carry out restoration projects.

Te Korowai o Te Tai o Marokura - Kaikōura Coastal Marine Guardians

Also known as the Kaikōura Coastal Marine Guardians, Te Korowai o Te Tai o Marokura literally means "the cloak of Te Tai o Marokura", and culturally translates to lay a cloak of guardianship over the sea around Kaikōura. Membership of Te Korowai includes Kaikōura commercial fisherman, recreational fishermen, tourism operators, members of Te Runanga o Kaikōura, and local people with an interest in our environment.

The group were established by the Kaikōura Marine Management Act 2014. They are appointed by the Ministers for Conservation and Primary Industries to advise the Ministers on any matter that affects Te Tai Marokura, and may also advise any other person or organisation that makes decisions that may affect this area.

Kaikōura Ocean Research Institute (KORI)

KORI is a network of marine researchers and educators who are committed to protecting what is here in Kaikōura. Since 2012, the Kaikōura Ocean Research Institute Inc. has conducted meaningful scientific research on Kaikōura’s marine environment and the animals that live within it with the aim of increasing scientific and public understanding of local species, and the threats which face them. They believe that this combination of research and education is key to the conservation of the marine wildlife we have here in Kaikōura, some of which is already critically endangered.

They have two main animals in which their projects are based Hector's Dolphin Projects and Penguin Projects.

Te Tau Wairehu o Marokura Predator Control Project

Te Tau Wairehu o Marokura predator control project is dedicated to restoring the gift of Marokura and the balance of life. They use trapping methods to suppress predation on our local Taonga species (Birds/Plants) and do so following Maori practices. Mauri Ora.

They work closely with their Treaty Partners, Community Restoration Groups, Landowners and engage with the local Kaikōura & Marlborough communities which has and will continue to help this project succeed.

Their focus is on establishing a 130km coastal trap line from Awatere to the Ōaro Rivers, with intensive trapping mechanisms (DOC200 or KATSA2) in predator hot spot areas and the kick start to a long-lasting pest management plan to protect our native taonga species.

Banded Dotterel study South Bay

New Zealand’s Banded Dotterel population is declining and they are disappearing from many sites across NZ. They are endangered and endemic to New Zealand. The Banded Dotterel study at South Bay is working with our community to record, research and raise awareness of the Banded Dotterels in our district. The group is working at reversing the alarming trends in population decline and continuing to monitor breeding success at South Bay so that Kaikōura can remain a Banded Dotterel stronghold.

They work to protect nests from predation with humane cage traps for cats and protective cages around nests. As a result hopefully more eggs will hatch. The research in recent years has highlighted that domestic cats are a major threat to the Dotterels. Learn more about being a responsible cat owner in Kaikōura here. Four wheel driving on the beaches at Mill Road and South Bay are also a major threat. During nesting season stick to single tracks to reduce the threat to eggs and chicks, or even better avoid driving on the beaches during this time.

The Hutton's Shearwater Charitable Trust

The Hutton's Shearwater Charitable Trust was formed in October 2008 to encourage and promote the preservation, conservation, research, public education, and sustainable management of the endangered Hutton's Shearwater. The Trust aims to gain greater ecological understanding of the Hutton's Shearwater by facilitating research, mitigating threats, securing the two remaining mountain colonies, successfully managing the translocated Kaikōura Peninsula colony, and promoting awareness.