Our Strategic Plan



Our Vision

Is to see the return of kōkako, tīeke and other species lost to Aotea.

Our Mission

Work with Aotea’s mana whenua and community to protect biodiversity, re-introduce lost species, eradicate rats and feral cats, and grow a sustainable, ecology-based economy.

Our Values

Be a Voice for Biodiversity | Open Communication | Evidence-based | Integrity | Respect for Mana Whenua | Inclusion | Commitment | Innovation | Trust


Our Goals

  1. Strengthen our partnership with mana whenua as kaitiaki of Aotea

  2. Strengthen and enable community and landowner action

  3. Facilitate targeted research and information to support action

  4. Educate and advocate for Aotea’s taonga ecosystems and species

Our Key Activities In 2023-2025

  1. Strengthen our partnership with mana whenua as kaitiaki of Aotea

    • Supporting Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea to make Tū Mai Taonga a suc

    • Work with community conservation projects to recognise te ao Māori and matauranga and respect hapu interests and values

  2. Strengthen and enable community and landowner action

    • Continue to grow use of the Aotea Trap Library

    • Enable and act as an umbrella Trust for community projects, for example: Oruawharo Medlands Ecovision, the Awana Project, Okupu Community Trappers and others

  3. Facilitate targeted research and information to support action

    • Coordinate the Aotea Bird Count

    • Provide environmental reporting (Aotea climate impacts, freshwater ecology, research repository)

    • “Aotea Seabird Island” kaupapa and events

    • Targeted responses (caulerpa, dogs, pigs, others) as required

  4. Educate and advocate for Aotea’s taonga ecosystems and species

    • Develop and promote educational material on taonga of Aotea (e.g., lizards, freshwater species)

    • Aotea Conservation Workshops

    • Publish and promote Environmental News twice annually

    • Prepare and promote submissions and advocate as required to Auckland Council, DOC, MPI and others

Our Communications Strategy Underpins Our Goals

  1. Educate:

    • Key message: Aotea’s treasures are unique and under threat - they need

      your protection

    • Partner with others to build love of and connection to nature (in schools, via social & local media, events

    • Grow knowledge through increasing participation in pest management and restoration

  2. Advocate

    • Maintain relationships with iwi, agencies (e.g., DOC, Council) and other key stakeholders

    • Ensure decision makers are provided with timely information about the state of ecosystems, key species and threats

    • Be active in the submissions, planning, communication and other processes that relate to Aotea’s ecology

  3. Celebrate

    • Share Aotea’s biodiversity stories and images often and well via social and local media and other channels

    • Help others to tell Aotea’s biodiversity stories in season and “at place”

    • Share stories about Aotea’s conservation heroes at work and why they do what they do


If not us, then who?

If not now, then when?