RealNZ’s annual A Night for Nature gala raised $240,675, the highest total in the event’s 10-year history, to support the 2028 translocation of kiwi pukupuku (little spotted kiwi) to Cooper Island in Fiordland.
Decade of predator control enables kiwi return
The translocation, announced in May, follows more than a decade of predator trapping and habitat restoration led by RealNZ on Ao-ata-te-pō Cooper Island under a Community Agreement with New Zealand’s Department of Conservation. Sustained predator suppression has given DOC confidence to approve a wildlife permit for kiwi pukupuku to return to Fiordland for the first time in generations, despite the island’s proximity to the mainland meaning it can never be fully predator-free.
Peter Chrisp, Department of Conservation director-general, said the event demonstrates how public enthusiasm for conservation can translate into concrete outcomes. Dave Beeche, RealNZ chief executive, said the result builds on years of on-the-ground work. “Tonight’s result means we start the next chapter for kiwi pukupuku from a position of real strength, and it sits on top of a decade of hard, unglamorous work on the ground at Cooper Island,” Beeche said.
Fundraising continues through September
RealNZ is continuing to fund the project through its Real Promise campaign, donating 1 per cent of all online booking revenue until the end of September, alongside staff-led fundraising initiatives. The company is also backing kiwi pukupuku in this year’s Bird of the Year competition, with voting opening 4 September.
The gala’s live auction, hosted by comedian Te Radar, included a raffled expedition cruise to New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands donated by Heritage Expeditions, the event’s major prize partner.
For agents and operators selling New Zealand and Fiordland product, the milestone reinforces RealNZ’s conservation credentials alongside its tourism operations, spanning Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound cruises, Cardrona Alpine Resort and Queenstown-based experiences, relevant for clients seeking accommodation and touring options with a demonstrated conservation track record.
