Invercargill's iconic tuatara, including 106 year old Henry, are being moved to an undisclosed 'secure location' later next week, ahead of preparation work being started on the new $39.4 million Southland museum rebuild.

Geotechnical work is due to begin at the current museum next Thursday (2 Mar).

Invercargill City Council (ICC) Group Manager Leisure and Recreation Steve Gibling said there would be some noise and vibrations caused by the geotechnical work that could impact the tuatara and their wellbeing.

"Work is about to commence on the museum site where our taonga tuatara are housed, so it’s important that we protect them and move them to a new temporary home while this work is under way,” Gibling said.

“Unfortunately, this means Henry and the other tuatara will not be on display for several months as we go through the process of doing site work, moving the collection and demolishing the building."

“The excellent care for the tuatara will continue as it always has, and they will be housed in a safe and secure location. Normal welfare checks will also continue as usual to ensure they are happy and healthy,” he said.

Project 1225 Lead Councillor Nigel Skelt said the tuatara were important and loved by the Southland community and had an important connection to the museum.

Members of the public are invited to view Henry and the other tuatara from the north-side of the museum building, before an ICC Parks and Recreation team with rūnaka move them on February 28.

Southland Museum was the first institution to establish a captive Tuatara breeding programme and in 2020 successfully relocated seventy-five to Takapourewa/Stephens Island in the Marlborough Sounds in 2020.

It is estimated that between 60-80,000 now survive on New Zealand's predictor free islands.