Kaipupu Sanctuary

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Kaipupu Sanctuary

Kaipūpū Sanctuary is a pest-free nature sanctuary in Picton. To visit the sanctuary it is just a 10min boat ride from Picton.

We are a community group working under the Picton Dawn Chorus umbrella to create a national ecological treasure for all to enjoy We also have a shop in Picton: 14 Auckland Street, Picton 7220
Open Mon - Fri 9am-3pm

Kaipupu Sanctuary is a community project run by dedicated volunteers. Many thanks to our foundation partners/landowners Department of Conservation and Port Marlborough and our major s

ponsors:
NZ King Salmon, Mudhouse Wines, and Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries. For more information, please visit our website.

04/02/2026

Big thanks to the Marlborough Lines Ltd team - what a great job they did helping us with all those tasks that we just need a bit of extra human power to achieve. Big thumbs up to you all!!

27/01/2026

What a night. What a team.

Around 50 volunteers turned up for our Volunteer Thank You on Monday night, and when the southerly arrived right on 4pm, we were very glad we’d swapped a beach party for the Picton Little Theatre Incorporated. Great turnout, great vibe, and a brilliant chance to catch up with so many like-minded people.

Huge thanks to Mud House Wines and New Zealand King Salmon for their generous donations of wine and salmon - it was very much appreciated by everyone.

Most importantly, thank you to our incredible volunteers - our trappers, tree planters, weeders, nursery and maintenance teams, guides, educators, shop and market volunteers, trap builders… the list truly goes on.

Our volunteers are the reason we are successfully restoring bird and plant life on Kaipūpū Sanctuary and Waitohi Picton. We couldn’t do this without you 💚

21/01/2026

A huge thank you to New Zealand King Salmon at last weekend’s Picton Maritime Festival Trust.

Their awesome team of volunteers prepared and sold a stunning King Salmon dish, with all proceeds donated to a local Marlborough charity. This year, Kaipūpū Sanctuary was the chosen charity and we couldn't be happier 💚

Festival-goers were treated to a seriously delicious miso-cured Regal Marlborough King Salmon, served with Osaka-style slaw, sesame ginger dressing and a wasabi crisp. It went down a treat.

While the weather was challenging, the day still raised a fantastic $1,422 for the Sanctuary, which we’re very grateful for.

Thanks so much, New Zealand King Salmon - we really appreciate your support and generosity.

22/12/2025

It’s Little Penguin (kororā) fledging season on Kaipūpū 🐧
And it’s been a cracker of a year for these lovely little birds.

The chicks have grown well, look healthy, and are now getting ready to head out into the big wide world. Best of all, they’ve been left undisturbed by visitors, which makes a huge difference at this vulnerable stage.

Good luck out there, little kororā. You’ve got this 💙

17/12/2025

We’re really disappointed to share that one of the AT220 traps in our network around Kaipūpū Sanctuary has been deliberately destroyed.

This trap had just had its first service since being installed in July. It’s frustrating, and honestly pretty upsetting.

We launched Project TRAP last December. In just one year, 177 traps have been installed across our area - made possible through community donations and grant funding. Each trap now costs around $640 to purchase, install, and maintain, so damage like this isn’t minor. It’s a real hit to the work we’re doing together.

The AT220 traps are our most effective tool to protect native birds. They:
• Reset automatically, ready for multiple pests
• Use a safe, non-toxic lure that works every night
• Dispense fresh lure nightly, creating trails that attract more pests over time
• Only need servicing every 4–6 months, making them ideal for hard-to-reach areas

These traps are about one thing: giving our birds a fighting chance.
This work is powered by people. Our volunteers contribute over 13,000 hours every year to predator control, planting, maintenance, and monitoring. When someone damages equipment like this, it undermines a huge amount of goodwill, time, and effort from people who care deeply about this place.

We are a community working together to restore our native birdlife. Acts like this go directly against that shared goal - and that’s what hurts the most.
For more information on Project TRAP, please visit www.pictondawnchorus.nz

12/11/2025

🌿 Big shout-out to Soundsnet! 🌿

They’ve been supporting Picton Dawn Chorus right from the very beginning, providing the Wi-Fi that keeps our shop and office connected.

When our connection went down this week, Erin and Rob jumped straight in to get us back online — no fuss, just awesome local support as always.

Thanks, Soundsnet, for being part of our journey and for your ongoing generosity to the community. 💚

21/10/2025

🎉 Housie Night Fundraiser - Join us on November 10! 🎉

Join us for a night of laughs, prizes, and good times - all for a great cause! 🌿
We’re hosting a Housie Night at Oxley’s, Picton to raise funds to purchase more AT220 traps to help protect the native wildlife in our lovely area.

🎲 What’s in store:
- 10 games for just $40
- Great cash prizes
- Raffles to be won
- Food & drinks available

Bring your friends, enjoy a fun night out, and support nature while you’re at it! 💚
Let’s make it a night to remember - come along, have some fun, and do some good!

To book, please email [email protected] with your
name and the number of tickets you would like.

14/10/2025

👟 Big thanks to everyone who completed the Gondola Hill Walk on Sunday!

The day was moody and windy, and the sun shone through at times, but the rain held off - so well done to you all who made it to the top! We had a record turnout, and while it’s a solid effort to reach those heights, we hope everyone felt well rewarded by the stunning views.

We really appreciate all your generous donations supporting our cause. Raffle tickets are still available for our gift basket, so don’t hesitate to pop into the Picton Dawn Chorus Centre at 14 Auckland Street to pick one up! Only $5 each. 🌿

06/10/2025

Our Gondola Hill fundraiser is on this coming Sunday, weather permitting!
Don't miss this unique opportunity to see Picton from a birds-eye view.
Make it part of your Mt. Everest Challenge.
Please share!

30/09/2025

🌿 Lace up your walking shoes! The Gondola Hill Walk is happening on Sunday 12 October, 10am.

It’s a chance to take in stunning bird’s-eye views of Picton while supporting our important conservation mahi. 🌴

We’ll be keeping fingers crossed for fine weather ☀️ Hope to see you there!

👉 Full details and information on Eventifinda: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/gondola-hill-walk/marlborough

Pre-register at https://forms.gle/85us4szp3U344RS19 so we know how many lollies to supply on the day.

24/09/2025

🌿 Thank you to everyone who joined us on Tuesday night at the Picton Little Theatre!

We had a wonderful evening hearing from guest speaker Neil Mulholland, Chair of the NZ Nature Fund and now a Marlborough local. It was inspiring to learn about his journey, his passion for conservation, and some tips on what we can all do to play a part in protecting Aotearoa’s future.

Of course, Sam the Trap Man needs no introduction - and he was memorable as ever in the short film 'Think Like a Forest'. The film is now available on TVNZ OnDemand and, at just 36 minutes, it’s well worth a watch when you get the chance.

A big thank you to everyone who came along. We really appreciate your support and hope you enjoyed the evening as much as we did! 🌱

14/09/2025

Don’t miss this inspiring evening at Picton Little Theatre!

We’re screening Think Like a Forest – a powerful short film sharing the vision of restoring 2 million hectares of native forests and wetlands across Aotearoa.

We will also be joined by Neil Mulholland, Chair of the NZ Nature Fund, who’ll share his experiences turning people’s love of nature into action.

📅 Tue 23 Sept
⏰ 5.45pm for your complimentary drink, 6pm start
💲 $15
👉 Book now: https://forms.gle/E8d12XoKci5xvw186

Or email: [email protected]
Seats are limited – hurry and secure yours today!

Address

Kaipupu Point
Picton
7220

Telephone

+6439284957

Website

https://www.pictondawnchorus.nz/, https://www.kaipupusanctuary.nz/

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