Conservation Education Programme for International Students

Learning Opportunities

The Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari international conservation education programme offers students the opportunity to:

• Experience the rich history of this ambitious conservation project - New Zealand's largest pest-free fenced sanctuary.
• Discover how two significant conservation technologies (pest-proof fencing and pest eradication) have enabled the ecological restoration of the mountain.
• Learn about New Zealand's unique biodiversity within the forest ecosystem of Maungatautari.
• Understand the important role people have as kaitiaki or guardians of the land.

Programme delivery:

Our expert educators will plan your visit to cater to the needs of your group. 

We have delivered successful programmes supporting international student group experiences of the New Zealand forest environment and understanding conservation in New Zealand, biology, geography, EFS and other learning areas.

Educator-led programmes are a maximum of 4 hours in duration from 10am-2pm.

Themes might include:

• What is special about New Zealand's biodiversity and why it is so unique compared to much of the rest of the world.
• Key conservation challenges facing New Zealand's wildlife and environments: Habitat loss and introduced pest species.

• New Zealand birds, reptiles, invertebrates and plants – discover the interconnections/ interdependence within a North Island New Zealand forest ecosystem.
• The translocation process: Which species have been reintroduced to Maungatautari and why? Who is involved? How do we care for, survey and monitor these species? 
• Matauranga Maori perspectives.

Experience New Zealand native wildlife in the wild!

During your guided hikoi students might see:

North Island robins, tomtits, kākā, tūī, bellbirds, hihi, tīeke, fantails, pōpokotea, kererū and wētā.