Te Manahuna Aoraki Project

What Te Manahuna Aoraki Project does

Te Manahuna Aoraki Project is a registered New Zealand charitable conservation initiative established in 2018 to protect and revitalise a 310,000 hectare mainland island encompassing the Upper Mackenzie Basin and Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Its core activities are large-scale predator elimination (targeting possums, stoats, rats, hedgehogs, feral cats, and rabbits), invasive weed control (rowan, broom, cotoneaster, gorse, Russell lupins, flowering cherry), and ecological monitoring of native species including the critically endangered kakī/black stilt (fewer than 200 adults remain in the wild), banded dotterel, wrybills, kea, native fish, lizards, and tussock grasslands. Operational delivery has been managed by Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) since 1 July 2022, which employs the project team and oversees all technical and operational aspects.

The project operates as a multi-stakeholder partnership rather than a commercial enterprise: founding partners are the Department of Conservation, NEXT Foundation, and Manawhenua (Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, Te Rūnanga o Moeraki, Te Rūnanga o Waihao), and the broader coalition now includes 14 high-country landowners, the New Zealand Defence Force, Predator Free 2050 Ltd, Re:Wild, Aotearoa Foundation, Jasmine Social Investments, and community volunteers. Revenue is generated through government grants (notably up to NZD $12M over four years from LINZ's Jobs for Nature programme, announced 2021), philanthropic contributions, and public donations (minimum NZD $10 via the project website). Public engagement channels include the website, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, an email newsletter, the iNaturalist citizen science platform, and a live Kakī webcam streaming from DOC's Twizel facility.

Name

Te Manahuna Aoraki Project

Legal name

Te Manahuna Aoraki Project

Website

https://temanahunaaoraki.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Te Manahuna Aoraki Project is a New Zealand charitable conservation initiative, founded 2018, protecting a 310,000 hectare mainland island in the Upper Mackenzie Basin and Aoraki Mount Cook National Park through predator elimination, weed control, and native species recovery, funded by government grants, philanthropy, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Control & Exclusion (IMAIAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG), Wildlife Control (Nuisance Animals) for Agricultural Operations (AFACAGAH), Wildlife Deterrence & Relocation (Outdoor Nuisance Animals) (HSAIANAG), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Predator control services
• Invasive weed management
• Native species conservation
• Mainland island restoration
• Wildlife monitoring services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mackenzie

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations: The project accepts donations from the public with a minimum contribution of $10. Donations are processed via secure payment processing service accepting Visa and MasterCard.
2. Government Grants: LINZ announced investment of up to $12M over four years from its Jobs for Nature programme to remove pests and weeds in the project area.
3. Foundation/Philanthropic Funding: Funding from partner organizations including NEXT Foundation, Aotearoa Foundation, Jasmine Social Investments, and other philanthropic partners.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Te Manahuna Aoraki Project is a New Zealand registered charity that delivers conservation services across 310,000 hectares in the Upper Mackenzie Basin and Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Its core offerings are large-scale predator elimination (possums, stoats, rats, hedgehogs, feral cats, rabbits), invasive weed control, and ecological monitoring of braided river birds and native species. The project supplements these field services with public engagement tools including a citizen science program on iNaturalist, an interactive project map, educational resources, and a live Kakī/black stilt webcam.

Product overview

Te Manahuna Aoraki Project is a conservation initiative, not a technology company with commercial products. The organization operates as a partnership-based environmental protection program focused on creating a predator-free mainland island across 310,000 hectares in New Zealand's Southern Alps. Its offerings consist of conservation services including large-scale predator and weed elimination, species monitoring programs, and public engagement tools such as citizen science platforms (via iNaturalist), an interactive project map, educational resources (species posters, guides), and a live Kakī webcam. Rather than a unified product platform, these are interconnected conservation programs and community engagement resources working toward ecological restoration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Predator Control Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Kea flock sizes doubled in Malte Brun area over two years following pest eradication
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, founding/core and supporting.

• Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022On 1 July 2022, ZIP was engaged by the project board to take on responsibility for development and delivery of Te Manahuna Aoraki Project. ZIP now employs the project team and oversees design, planning and implementation of all technical and operational aspects.
• Department of Conservation (DOC)founding/coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018DOC is a founding partner managing nearly 60% of the project's land area, including Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. DOC's Kakī Recovery Programme near Twizel has brought back the kakī/black stilt from the brink of extinction.
• NEXT Foundationfounding/coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018NEXT is a strategic philanthropy fund and founding partner. Its vision is to leave a legacy of environmental and educational excellence for future generations of New Zealanders. NEXT also founded Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) with DOC in 2016.
• Manawhenua (Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, Te Rūnanga o Moeraki, Te Rūnanga o Waihao)founding/coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Te Manahuna Aoraki has huge cultural and spiritual significance for the three rūnaka who whakapapa to the area. They represent traditional Māori stewardship of the whenua.
• Predator Free 2050 LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrown-owned charitable company established to help deliver the New Zealand government's goal of eradicating possums, stoats and rats by 2050.
• High Country Landowners (14 stations)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner14 large private landowners and Crown pastoral lessees in the project area are all key partners. Many have farmed in the area for generations and are keen stewards of the land. Stations include Balmoral, Braemar, Glenmore, Glentanner, Mt Cook Station, and others.
• New Zealand Defence ForcesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages approx 15,000ha in project area as Takapō/Tekapo Military Training Area. As good steward of Crown land, NZDF maintains natural values including landscape, water and biodiversity. Pest control since 1996 has seen re-establishment of native tussock grasslands.
• Re:WildsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational conservation organisation working to protect and restore biodiversity. Has funded a new brooder and aviary at DOC's Kakī Recovery Programme's Twizel facility.
• iNaturalistsupportingTechnology or IntegrationCitizen science platform used for recording wildlife sightings and invasive weed reports in the project area.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust: Community-led mainland island sanctuary in Taranaki using a pest-exclusion fence and community-driven trapping. Comparable model combining fenced predator-free area with volunteer-based conservation.
• Cape Sanctuary (Cape Kidnappers): Private mainland sanctuary in Hawkes Bay combining predator exclusion with kiwi and threatened species recovery. Operates a similar mainland island conservation model in New Zealand.
• Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust: Community trust managing a 3,400 hectare mainland ecological island in the Waikato protected by a pest-exclusion fence. Comparable as a large-scale mainland island predator-free restoration initiative.
• Brook Waimārama Sanctuary: Nelson-based mainland island sanctuary undertaking predator eradication within a fenced perimeter. Shares mainland island methodology, volunteer engagement, and species recovery objectives.
• Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP): Specialist technical operator that since 2022 has been engaged to deliver Te Manahuna Aoraki Project. ZIP is a direct peer in mainland island predator elimination, sharing mission, methods, and the Predator Free 2050 ecosystem.
• Zealandia: Wellington urban ecosanctuary operating a fenced predator-free mainland island. Zealandia is one of New Zealand's most established mainland predator eradication projects and a closely comparable operational model.

Broad incumbents

• Predator Free 2050 Limited: Crown-owned charitable company coordinating New Zealand's national predator-free ambition. Te Manahuna is a major flagship project within Predator Free 2050's portfolio, sharing goals and governance backing.
• Predator Free New Zealand Trust: Community movement that mobilises volunteer trapping networks across New Zealand. Operates as a wider-incumbent in the same predator-control mission space that Te Manahuna works within.
• Department of Conservation (DOC): New Zealand government agency that manages nearly 60% of Te Manahuna's project area, including Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, and runs the Kākī Recovery Programme. Functions as both founding partner and broader-incumbent peer across national conservation.

Regional players

• Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari (operational arm): Operational visitor-facing arm of Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust. Comparable as a mainland island restoration organisation and relevant regional peer for community engagement and funding models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgECI5JLHim13E2smz45TlQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/temanahunaaoraki
• Instagraminstagram.com/temanahunaaoraki

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Te Manahuna Aoraki Project