The public has three weeks to come up with ideas to enhance and retain Te Anau’s much-loved Bird Sanctuary with its future up in the air, and while the prized takahe will likely stay, DOC can’t confirm yet that the other birds will.

A collaborative call for feedback was launched today (14 July) by the relevant agencies with submissions closing on 3 August.

There’s been great concern in the Te Anau community that the birds, including Te Anau’s prized takahē – a local icon, may be moved elsewhere and out of the park with DOC opting out of the park’s management.

Te Anau's popular Bird Sanctuary has suffered from a lack of direction and investment. In February 2025 DOC announced it was withdrawing its management of the facility and would be actively exploring alternatives. Photo: Southland App

A number of individual community interests have been exploring ways for locals to take over the operation, including the possibility of setting up trusts.

DOC acting operations manager Te Anau Elicia Milne says, “at this stage there are no plans to rehome the takahē pairs at Te Anau Bird Sanctuary”, although details for any management transition are yet to be finalised.

There are currently 16 birds at the park - four pāteke/brown teal, two kōwhiowhio/whio, four Antipodes Island kākāriki and six South Island takahē, two of which are chicks.

Asked whether DOC was considering moving any other of the species out of the park, she said she couldn’t confirm that, or anything else, because “the transitional model” had not yet been confirmed.

Once that was confirmed DOC would share the plans for the other birds with the wider community.

“There’s still some thinking on that and working through within DOC what our next steps are, but we will communicate that within the coming weeks or next few months, before the next breeding season,” Milne says.

She could not share anything else at this stage.

“Any future transition will be managed with the wellbeing of birds, staff and Te Anau Bird Sanctuary/Te Punanga Manu o Te Anau’s future in mind,” she says.

At this stage DOC is supporting Ōraka Aparima, Great South and Fish and Game with technical advice for managing any captive species and with their scoping work.

This Kākāriki (Antipodes Island Parakeet) calls the Te Anau sanctuary home. Photo: Chris Watson/Profocus

There’s already been an overwhelmingly positive response to today’s call for ideas for the future of the park from manu whenua, key agencies and the community, Great South facilitating that process.

The united regional effort is exploring opportunities to make the park viable on its present site.

DOC, site owners Southland Fish and Game, iwi Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka and Great South have asked anyone interested to share their thoughts on what the future of this site could look like.

People are encouraged to fill out a feedback form on Great South’s website – www.greatsouth.co.nz

Ken Brown, of the local Save Our Sanctuary group, says while he’s pleased there’s now a transparent process underway and a coordinated approach, the main concern has been that DOC may be trying to move some of the birds out the park.

“That would be disastrous."

"If the other birds are moved it will be impossible to build up the park as a sanctuary moving forward.”

His group is keen to bring all the different agencies and local interest groups together to work on the best options moving forward.

He says there are several individual groups working on proposals, such as setting up various trusts to save the park and its birds.

Kōwhiowhio (Whio / Blue Duck) can be seen at the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary. Photo: Chris Watson/Profocus

“We’re hoping to pull a meeting together of all those interested,” he says.

Their response would then be handed to local iwi during the submission and feedback process.

“We’re happy though that things are moving in the right direction,” Brown says.

Great South General Manager of Regional Strategy Bobbi Brown says her phone was already running hot within a short time of the news being announced on social media today (14 July), with three very good submissions arriving in too.

“I’m absolutely happy with this process and the early response has just reinforced that the local community needs to be included in any plans."

"It’s reinforced the depth of feeling and that it’s a topic that everybody cares about,” she says.

“People want to know more and this way there will be balance.”

It’s vital that the community get to put their ideas forward, she says.

“I can guarantee that your feedback and ideas will get in front of the people that control the outcome.”

The jewel in the crown - Takahē, can be seen b visitors all year round at the sanctuary. Photo: Chris Watson/Profocus

There seemed to be a positivity and excitement coming through on options for the park’s future.

“Everyone loves it. It’s such a valuable taonga, and some people see potential for what it can become in the future, opportunities to make it even better.”

She’s expecting lots of quality submissions and feedback and she’d been encouraged already by ideas shared by those calling her, including local businesses, all emphasising the importance of the park as a local tourism gem.

“I’m really pleased that people are thinking outside the square,” Brown says.

Fiordland Community Board chairperson Diane Holmes says she’s relieved to see there’s a promising future for the park and that key players are interested in making it a sustainable operation.

She was also pleased to see some public communication, “as in the absence of that people fill in the gaps with other scenarios”.

Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka deputy chairperson, Sue Crengle says the joint call is “an important step toward a future that would be shaped by values of kaitiakitanga and community connection”.

“Te Punanga Manu is a taonga – a treasure for our people and our region,” she says.

“This is an opportunity to reset and reshape what it can be for future generations."

"We’re looking forward to hearing from the community and working in partnership with others to realise that vision.”

The Te Anau bird sanctuary is located within sight of the rediscovery location of Fiordland's takahē. Photo: Chris Watson/Profocus

The insights gathered will be shared with Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka and Fish and Game New Zealand with technical advice provided from DOC.

The group says the next steps will be made available publicly around the end of August, early September.

The Feedback Form is available here or via Great South’s website www.greatsouth.nz

For further information or questions contact: Bobbi Brown at Great South E: [email protected] M: +64 21 241 7506.

Sue Fea is a senior journalist with more than 40-years experience covering police, social and general news in the southern regions.