Two Te Anau business leaders have helped secure the future of Te Anau’s cherished bird sanctuary.
Ōraka-Aparima Rūnaka, alongside partners Fish & Game and the Department of Conservation, said in a statement this week Steve Lockwood and Peter Egerton would take up stewardship of Te Punanga Manu/Te Anau Bird Sanctuary and develop the sanctuary into a ‘‘world-class destination’’.
Following a review in 2024, Doc announced it would step back from managing the site on the shores of Lake Te Anau.
Fish & Game, the site’s owner, was working with Mr Lockwood and Mr Egerton to progress the next steps for Te Punanga Manu, the statement said.
Mr Egerton said the pair were honoured to be working with the rūnaka and other stakeholders to realise the potential of the bird park.
‘‘This is a very special place with immense cultural and environmental significance,’’ he said.
Through their Fiordland tourism operation, Cruise Milford, Mr Egerton and Mr Lockwood had arranged a sponsorship agreement with Doc to support the care of the park’s birds during the present transition period.
This would ensure continuity for the wildlife while plans were developed and implemented.
Although final plans were still being developed the intention was to take the essence of the park and the significant role it had ‘‘always played in the Te Anau community’’ and establish it as ‘‘a world-class destination’’, the statement said.
Last year, Great South facilitated a three-week public consultation on behalf of the rūnaka.
Great South regional strategy general manager Bobbi Brown released a summary of the consultation this week.
In the summary, Mrs Brown said 90 submissions were received, the majority from residents and businesses in the area.
Most wanted to retain the bird park.
One submission suggested other uses for the land the park was on and one submitter would sooner see the park close than continue in its run-down state, Mrs Brown said.
There was overwhelming support to keep the experience the park provided and most people who submitted had ideas about how the park could continue to exist.
Two submissions suggested concepts for commercial operations at the park.
A group of interested people has been formed and offered to take responsibility for the park, the summary said.
Ōraka-Aparima Rūnaka deputy chairwoman Sue Crengle said submissions played a key role in shaping the path forward and community input would continue to play a role as the park’s development is planned.
‘‘It was clear that the community want to see the bird park endure and continue to be a place that puts the wellbeing of our taonga species front and centre,’’ she said.
