Sanctuary on the Faultline

Social Studies Online

In 1991, the Wellington Forest and Bird committee were working on their Natural Wellington programme to protect and enhance the remaining rainforest in and around the city. As part of their survey, Jim Lynch and Chris Mathieson walked through the valley of the Karori reservoirs, making notes and taking photos. They realised that "it was a pretty special place and something would have to be done about it." The idea of a nature reserve came up. Later that year Jim was visiting a friend in Northland and watched a conservation officer fencing off some bush to protect it. The idea began to develop.

Shortly afterwards the upper dam was decommissioned and the City Council called a group together to discuss what to do with the land. Jim recalls, "I suggested it could be fenced off and turned into a wildlife sanctuary." DOC was consulted and shortly afterwards Jim wrote the original concept plan for the sanctuary. This was presented to the Wellington Regional Council (owners of the land) and the Wellington City Council who both put up money for a detailed study to be done of the proposal. Approval was given to go ahead and in 1994 the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Trust was set up. Jim is currently the deputy chairman of the Trust.

The vision for the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary is to return the valley to its original vegetation and wildlife. This means

• A replanting scheme to include the big forest trees that used to grow there such as matai and rata, rimu and hinau, tawa and kahikatea.
• The reintroduction of native water birds and bush birds, few of which remain.
• The reintroduction of other native animals such as frogs and tuatara.
• The elimination of the wide range of pests such as rats, opossums and stoats which destroy eggs and chicks and compete with native creatures for food.
• The construction of a predator proof fence to prevent reinfestation.