Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi

What Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi does

Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi (SoTM) is a New Zealand-registered non-profit conservation charity (CC22809) founded in 1988 and headquartered in Auckland, supporting the Tiritiri Matangi Island open scientific sanctuary, located 75 minutes by ferry from central Auckland. The organization supports habitat restoration, species translocation, and conservation education on the island, which it co-created with the Department of Conservation by planting more than 280,000 native trees between 1984 and 1994, and which now hosts 12 introduced bird species, 3 reptile species, and one insect species including kokako, kiwi pukupuku (estimated ~80 birds as of 2022), tuatara, and wetapunga.

The organization operates a portfolio of member-facing products and services: an annual tiered membership ($15-$35 NZD) including a quarterly Dawn Chorus magazine; guided walks led by 200+ trained volunteer guides; the Growing Minds education programme launched in 2012 serving EQI 430+ Auckland schools; structured corporate and group volunteering packages ($820-$1,650 + GST); an e-commerce online shop and on-island retail store selling branded merchandise, books, and gift vouchers; an annual photography competition and calendar generating $10,000+ per year; and planned infrastructure including a Field Centre and Signal Mast. It supports 30+ ongoing scientific research projects and runs working weekends, supporter events, and a school science-award programme in partnership with NIWA.

Its revenue model is a hybrid non-profit mix of recurring individual membership fees, one-time and bequest donations, trust and grant funding (Foundation North, Pub Charity, NZ Lotteries, Acorn, Stout), Auckland Council and DOC institutional support, corporate partnerships (Dilmah, Chelsea Sugar, MinterEllisonRuddWatts, Burnsco), merchandise sales, and unit-priced corporate experiences. Distribution runs through its own membership portal and online shop, on-island retail at the visitor centre, the Explore Group ferry partnership, and direct outreach to schools and corporate groups. There is no technology platform, AI, or SaaS offering; the core operational technology is conservation and ecological restoration practice.

Name

Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi

Legal name

Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi Inc.

Website

https://tiritirimatangi.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi is a 1988-founded New Zealand non-profit conservation charity supporting an island wildlife sanctuary 75 minutes from Auckland, delivering species translocation, education programmes, and guided walks funded by memberships, donations, grants, and retail.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation & Sanctuary Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

National Parks & Protected Area Visitor Services (Concessions, Guided Access) (THAAAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural & Community-Based Lodges (Indigenous/Local Conservancies) (THAGAIAL), Community-Based & Indigenous-Owned Nature Lodges (THAAAHAI)

Keywords

• Wildlife sanctuary management
• Conservation volunteer programmes
• Island ecological restoration
• Environmental education services
• Community conservation membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership subscriptions providing access to quarterly magazine Dawn Chorus, Supporters' Weekends, working weekends, advance notice of events, and volunteer opportunities. Single adult/family: $30, Overseas: $35, Student/child: $15.
2. Donations and Bequests: One-time and recurring donations accepted. Bequest programme allowing supporters to leave gifts in wills supporting conservation work, education programmes, lighthouse preservation, and citizen science initiatives.
3. Online Shop Sales: E-commerce store selling merchandise including clothing, accessories, books, stationery, home & lifestyle items, and conservation-themed products. Products sourced from NZ businesses and creative volunteers. All profits reinvested in island conservation and education.
4. Corporate Volunteering Packages: Group packages for corporate and community volunteers including return ferry fare, conservation activities, and guided walks. Group of up to 10: $1,650 + GST, smaller group up to 5: $820 + GST.
5. Calendar Sales: Annual photographic calendar featuring wildlife photography from the island, raising over $10,000 annually for the island's conservation work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi is a registered non-profit conservation charity that supports the Tiritiri Matangi Island open sanctuary near Auckland, New Zealand. It sells annual memberships, branded merchandise through an online shop, fee-based guided walks and corporate volunteering experiences, and education programmes including the Growing Minds initiative for schools. Revenue funds ongoing weed management, track maintenance, species translocations, scientific research, and educational outreach.

Product overview

Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi operates a non-profit conservation organization running an island wildlife sanctuary. The organization offers an e-commerce online shop selling branded merchandise (clothing, books, accessories), membership subscriptions with benefits including the quarterly Dawn Chorus magazine and access to supporters' weekends, guided tour services, and educational programmes including the Growing Minds initiative for Auckland schools. Revenue-generating activities include merchandise sales, membership fees, corporate volunteering packages, and on-island retail. The organization does not offer any technology products, APIs, or SaaS services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Shop (conservation merchandise)

Quantifiable outcome

• Kiwi population estimated at 80 birds (2022 survey)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major and minor.

• Explore GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExplore Group provides ferry services to Tiritiri Matangi Island from Auckland. They handle ferry ticket sales and bookings for visitors through their website. This partnership is essential for visitor access to the sanctuary.
• Department of Conservation (DOC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOC administers Tiritiri Matangi Island in partnership with iwi. The Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi provide support to ensure the ongoing strength of the conservation project. DOC also supports volunteer programmes and provides ferry transport for volunteers.
• DilmahmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDilmah is a significant partner providing support for activities and conservation programmes on the island.
• Chelsea SugarmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerChelsea Sugar provides support for activities and conservation programmes as a significant partner.
• NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIWA co-hosts the annual Science and Technology Auckland City Schools Fair with SoTM. SoTM awards are presented at this fair for student projects related to conservation and environmental science.
• Auckland CouncilmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAuckland Council provides support through trusts and regular donations to help fund education and conservation programmes.
• MinterEllisonRuddWattscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPrimary corporate partner providing venue for AGM (Seminar Room at PWC Tower) and ongoing support for the organization.
• BurnscominorGTM or Marketing PartnerBurnsco is listed among supporters providing donations and in-kind support.
• Chrisholm WhitneyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed among supporters providing donations and in-kind support.
• Save the KiwicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSave the Kiwi is a partner organization focused on kiwi conservation. Tiritiri Matangi has an established kiwi population translocated in 1993 and 1995.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Orokonui Ecosanctuary: South Island fenced eco-sanctuary near Dunedin operated by a charitable trust with volunteer, education, and visitor programmes. Direct peer - similar volunteer-driven sanctuary model, comparable revenue mix (membership, grants, school visits, retail), and conservation-translocation focus.
• Kapiti Island Nature Reserve (DOC concession operators): Island nature reserve off the Kapiti Coast with day-visitor access requiring permits/guided tours for kiwi and kokako viewing. Direct peer - protected-area island access with limited daily permits, ranger guides, and educational positioning; structurally similar visitor economics to Tiritiri Matangi.
• Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne: Wellington-area fenced mainland eco-sanctuary restoring native forest and translocating rare species. Direct peer - operates the same community-led sanctuary + guided-walk + membership model that SoTM uses on Tiritiri Matangi, with comparable volunteer programmes and education focus.
• Rotoroa Island Trust: Hauraki Gulf island wildlife sanctuary open to day visitors via ferry, restored by volunteers and partners. Direct peer - identical business model (island sanctuary, ferry access, volunteer-led conservation, DOC partnership, visitor centre and merchandise) and similar Auckland-region audience.
• Motuihe Island Trust: Auckland-based volunteer trust restoring pest-free status on Motuihe Island for native species translocation. Direct peer - community volunteer trust model, DOC partnership, and Hauraki Gulf island sanctuary positioning directly comparable to SoTM.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand: New Zealand's largest independent conservation NGO with membership, advocacy, and local branch volunteer networks. Broad incumbent - operates nationally across many sanctuaries and conservation causes, overlapping SoTM in conservation advocacy, school programmes, and member-driven fundraising.
• WWF-New Zealand: Large global-affiliated conservation NGO operating in NZ with corporate partnerships, donations, and education programmes. Broad incumbent - competes for the same corporate CSR funding, individual donors, and education grant pools as SoTM but at national scale and with a much broader species/cause mandate.
• Auckland Zoo (Auckland Council): Auckland Council-operated zoological institution running conservation, education, and visitor programmes. Broad incumbent - competes for the same Auckland school-trip and family-visitor market, and aligns with SoTM on species translocation and conservation education, but at much larger scale and with broader species portfolio.

Emerging players

• Save the Kiwi: NZ charity dedicated to kiwi conservation through translocation and community predator control. Strategic partner of SoTM (cited in their alliance list) and an emerging player in the niche SoTM also operates in - comparable in species focus (kiwi translocation programme since 1993) but narrower scope than full sanctuary management.

Others

• Predator Free 2050 Trust: NZ government-backed trust coordinating community predator-control efforts across the country. Not a direct competitor but an enabling/ecosystem player whose success directly affects SoTM's pest-management context on the island; relevant as a funder of community trapping that underpins Tiritiri Matangi's sanctuary status.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/tiritirimatangi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/supporters-of-tiritiri-matangi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi