Henry and his sixteen fellow tuatara are still in Invercargill and have adjusted wonderfully to their new temporary accommodation, according to an Invercargill City Council (ICC) spokesperson.

 Invercargill City Council Senior Living Species Officer Tuatara Lindsay Hazley holding his friend Henry, for whom he has been carer for more than 50 years. Photo: ICC

However the location of the rare reptiles remains a closely guarded secret "for security reasons".

It was confirmed to the Southland App that an enclosure, within an existing Invercargill building, had been modified to fit the needs of the tuatara.

ICC Parks and Recreation staff are taking the utmost care of the tuatara, as always, to ensure their safety and contentment as this project progresses, the spokesperson said.

Invercargill's tuatara were moved from their Southland Museum home in March, to allow geotechnical testing to take place ahead of the museum's $35.4 million redevelopment, dubbed 'Project 1225'.

Project 1225, which will see a new 3550m2 museum built at Queens Park, is due to be completed by December 2025 and will include a new permanent home for Invercargill's tuatara.

Details of the new tuatara enclosure have yet to be decided, but will be made public once they are confirmed, the spokesperson said.

Tuatara are endemic to New Zealand and are classified by the Department of Conservation as an at risk-relict.

They once lived throughout mainland New Zealand but now only inhabit 32 islands. They have a lifespan of around 60 years, but can live up until 100.

Henry is estimated to be 106 years old.