Tui Nature Reserve is made up of 42 hectares of mature and regenerating native bush, located in the Outer Pelorus, in the Marlborough Sounds on New Zealand's South Island. Thirty-eight hectares are legally protected as part of the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust, thus ensuring preservation for generations to come. As part of a peninsula with no road access, the Reserve will in time become one of New Zealand's few 'mainland island’ sanctuaries.

A shared vision with our neighbours is to establish a predator free fence in the future to isolate the peninsula from the mainland.

Our poison-free pest management scheme is having its impact on the restoration of the native bush and its wildlife. Especially the KoheKohe tree and the bird life are showing a huge improvement. In 2009 we have received funding from the Biodiversity Fund and the Council, to greatly extend the rat control programme. A grid has been set up with a total of 120 rat traps and 60 monitor tunnels, we will keep you posted of the ongoing results.

We have build safe reptile and bird enclosures on our reserve which house the Marlborough Green Gecko, Forest Gecko, Red Crowned Kakariki and Giant Weta for breeding and educational purposes. This project is in line with our vision to create a ‘mainland island’ with its original wildlife.

Winners of the Environment Award 2009

We are thrilled that we are the winners of not only the Habitat Enhancement but also the overall Supreme Award at the Marlborough Environment Award ! This is a real boost for our project. From the prize money we have won we have build breeding boxes for the Little Blue Penguin that have been placed by the shore. Read more.