This is a temporary landing page - come back for improvements and updates in the coming months!
** A project lead by the Lord Family Trust and partnering with neighbouring landowners **
The vision started with Lindsay and Joy Lord purchasing the 100Ha peninsula in the early 1970's. They have now passed on their love of this wild and beautiful place to their children and grandchildren.
The Lord Family Trust is now seeking to restore it to be place where native birdlife, flora and fauna thrive for their great-grandchildren and visitors to experience; birds like our resident Kiwi population and our Tui, Korora, Kaka and Kakariki.
Early October 2023 we initiated Phase 1 of 3 on the eastern-most third of the peninsula - monitoring, trapping and baiting.
This was expanded in 2025 and 2026 in phases to now continously trap the whole, with a virtual border at the western end.
We are now excited to be near possum free and with very low numbers of rats over the first 1/3 of the peninsula.
We are a family with a vision - to restore our part of Rakiura to thrive the way it was intended - prior to our introduced pests invading.
We are also part of a larger vision - to see Rakiura pest free and thriving through Predator Free Rakiura 2050.
Project Purpose: "rejuvenate indigenous flora and fauna on the Peninsula through the heavy suppression of rats, possums, feral cats, and deer, along with eradication of introduced weeds"
A 100Ha native bush peninsula within Paterson Inlet, Rakiura (Stewart Island) of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The area being managed also includes the historic Norwegian Whalers Base, who's owner we are partnering with to include their land in the project.
Our project success is measured by both the increase in birdlife and other flora/fauna and the reduction of their predators.
Review our latest predator reduction stats and get a sense of our location here:
We deeply appreciate the mahi (volunteer & paid work), advice and financial support in restoring this area. Ngā mihi nui ki a koe - thank you, thank you, thankyou!
Jobs for Nature and Environment Southland - The initial funding partnership that got the project started
Pacific Development and Conservation Trust
Murihiku Rūnaka and Rio Tinto / NZAS Community Development Fund
Rakiura Stewart Island Visitor Levy
Give a Trap (those who have supported us with Lure, Traps or bait donations via this platform)
Our family and friends who have donated directly and volunteered your time - cutting tracks, making bait stations, setting up the monitoring network, checking and rebaiting traps and so much more!