Follow the Endangered Species Foundation's journey in setting up a conservation fund for New Zealand's rarest of the rare - critically endangered fauna and flora on the brink of extinction. The future of New Zealand's most vulnerable is uncertain - nearly 4,000 indigenous species are in danger of being lost. We we have a chance to pledge our commitment and support to protect our extraordinary species and unique habitats, now and into the future. We are committed to preserving the rarest of the rare, by funding results orientated conservation projects, with the support of New Zealanders like you.

Thursday, 3 May 2012

Guiding Principles and Good News!

We have some very good news! Since our meeting with the Minister we have been busy with the principles that will guide the Endangered Species Foundation's work (see below). These need to be incorporated into a legal Tust Deed that will define what work the Foundation supports and how. Our good news is that David Ireland, a partner in Kensington Swan Lawyers in Wellingon, has generously agreed to draft this deed pro bono. Thanks David! Kensington Swan Lawyers are the first in what we hope are a dynamic group of businesses that are supporting the Foundation.

David Ireland of Kensington Swan Lawyers

 Our guiding principles that we have developed so far are:

  1. support the active conservation of New Zealand’s unique places, plants and animal life, particularly for those species that are at risk of extinction;
  2. prevent further extinctions by implementing world-leading  efficient and effective management programmes for those species in imminent risk of extinction (the “rarest of the rare”);
  3. support research that provides conservation managers with tools that can be used to redress the causes of rarity in New Zealand biota;
  4.  to assist and cooperate with persons and organisations sharing similar aims;
  5.  to facilitate the hands-on involvement of local communities in these objects;
  6.  to not be a replacement for existing work being carried out by other persons and organisations; 
  7.  to provide an avenue for individuals and organisations to financially support the objects of the Foundation;
  8. to appropriately acknowledge contributors to the Foundation;
  9.  to remain apolitical and non-aligned with any political or non-governmental organisation;
  10. to be financially self-supporting by raising capital and using the income to support the objects above
 What do you think?? These are drafts and we need feedback to make these as robust as possible

 Next on our list of actions is to approach some very talented people that might be willing to act as Founders or Trustees of the Endangered Species Foundation of New Zealand. Watch this blog!


A sad note in the world of New Zealand conservation was the recent death of Peter Mckenzie who founded the Nga Manu Nature Reserve near Waikanae in 1974 to protect a lowland forest remnant. Since then, the sanctuary grew and was involved in breeding programmes for endangered tuatara, kiwi and brown teal (among others).
Peter McKenzie with hatchling tuatara. Photo: Phil Reid/stuff.co.nz

Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)