Orokonui Ecosanctuary Second Decade Strategy 2020 to 2030

April 2019

Our Purpose – A Future for Our Past

Orokonui Ecosanctuary exists to inspire and empower all our visitors to make New Zealand safe again for its indigenous fauna and flora

Orokonui has done a great job on inspiration over its first decade of existence  primarily through the visitor experience in the ecosanctuary  made possible by Orokonui’s investment in conservation and restoration  and in our powerful education programmes to school-age children (mostly primary)  and in regular media columns in print and social media

Objectives to 2030 Focus on the river not the rocks  For next 10 years we will further Our strategies are the result of several months of extend our successful inspiration research and discussion over the summer of strategies 2018/2019 involving staff, trustees and directors of  And will also do more to empower Orokonui’s governing boards. our visitors to widen restoration beyond the fence Like a kayaker taking on a new rapid, we have  And so, improve biodiversity carefully studied where we want the river to take outcomes for the wider Dunedin us, then specified: region  Objectives to 2030 (the river)  Challenges and risks (the rocks) Strategies to 2030  Resources (the kayak)  Strategies (the paddle) We have developed strategies for Orokonui’s second decade in:  The Visitor Experience Over the next decade we will focus on the river –  Conservation and Restoration our progress towards meeting our objectives – and  Education the path we have set to avoid the rocks. We will ensure we have the resources that will be our kayak  Research down the rapid. And we will constantly review the  Our partners strategies that will be our paddle and steer us  Our People towards our goals.  Our Assets

The Visitor Experience

Orokonui inspires its visitors by Resources (the kayak) confronting them with an ecology that is  Doubling visitor numbers will put getting closer every day to the way New pressure on infrastructure and staff – Zealand was before people came; an especially at peak time of December and ecology populated only by New Zealand’s January indigenous plants and animals.  Double staff numbers in reception, venue

The ecosanctuary offers a graded range of hire, café and guides from 5 to 10 visitor experiences, beginning with the  Increase (by 100%) car park, toilets and visitor centre (including café, shop and wastewater systems venue hire opportunities), progressing to  Current visitor centre adequate to meet the level enclosures, and on to immersion in increased visitor numbers if (1) education the bush, with self-guided and guided tours programmes are relocated to a new that offer our most complete exposure to Education Building and (2) visits are the indigenous ecology being restored in the spread more evenly over the year and ecosanctuary. over the day

Objectives to 2030 (the river) Strategies (the paddle)  To have visitor numbers grow from  Spread visitors more evenly across the 14,000 now to 25-30,000 year (shoulder seasons) and times of day  To double the number of Dunedin  Create another track residents visiting the sanctuary  Include more points of interest to spread  To double the number of visitors visitor density deepening their Orokonui  experience with guided tours Develop a wider range of experiences,  “Take Orokonui Home” - an some outside of current opening hours integrated programme of adult  Offer differential pricing to encourage education, equipment sales, and deeper experience tours and spread sales or referrals to native plant visitor demand nurseries. Target the 33,000 gardens  Develop and launch a self-funded “Take in Dunedin of more than 500m2. Orokonui Home” programme Objective: 3000 “I’m an Orokonui Gardener” by 2030.  Build profile on digital platforms to draw visitors to the real thing Challenges and risks (the rocks)  Sustaining the quality of the visitor experience with double the number of visitors  Appeal of virtual worlds over the real thing  Ill-advised encouragement of bird feeding by “Orokonui gardeners”

Conservation and Restoration

Orokonui has reintroduced nine species since the fence was erected in 2008. Populations of South Island Robin, Kākā, Jewelled Gecko and Green Skink have been established. Tuatara have been restored for the first time in centuries, and a population of the threatened Haast Tokoeka Kiwi reside within the ecosanctuary. Advocacy populations of Takahē, Tuatara and Otago Skinks allow visitors to view these rarely seen species. Maturing bush and sustained weeding increasingly deliver an ecology that no longer exists close to a major urban area.

Our long-term objective is to see native birds return to the Dunedin district. Orokonui will play a key role in building community commitment to the project. The aim is to establish a relatively safe corridor of good habitat and predator control which Orokonui birds will use to colonise the wider area.

Objectives to 2030 (the river)  Active support of Kāti Huirapa ki  Eliminate chance of fence incursion by Puketeraki for DOC-enabled predators (rats, mustelids, possum) and translocations reduce the tracking rate of mice to 5%  Addition of an infrastructure manager once each year and community development ranger will  Three new populations to be established increase staff from 4 to 6 from Kākāriki, Tīeke, Tautuku Forest Gecko, Duvaucel’s Gecko, Snipe, Mohua Strategies (the paddle)  Make full use of new technologies to  Re-engineering of vulnerable areas of enhance the safety and quality of the the fence and culvert system, and ecology at Orokonui preventative maintenance to best-  In partnership with Predator Free available standard Dunedin and other stakeholders,  Eradicate Darwin’s Barberry and Spanish complete a plan for relatively safe bird- Heath; control Pines, Eucalyptus, Gorse migration corridors from Orokonui to the and Broom; prevent Sycamore and wider district Chilean Flamecreeper

Challenges and risks (the rocks)  Introduce Dactylanthus; promote Matai,  Neighbouring mature bush encourages Kōwhai, Rimu and Kahikatea migration beyond the fence and  Successful species translocations of exposure to predation three new populations  Failure to reduce predation around the  Attract Tītī to the ecosanctuary ecosanctuary to safe enough levels  Secure habitat for native fish  Complete a feasibility study for bird Resources (the kayak) migration corridors from Orokonui to the wider district  Orokonui is big enough to be useful to conservation yet manageable in size  Strengthen collaborative relationships with key stakeholders along the  Investment in the fence and culverts corridors into committed project system required to deal with changing partners weather events

Education

Orokonui’s education programmes have been one of our most powerful strategies for inspiring enthusiasm for conservation and restoration. In its first 10 years, the focus has been on primary schools, with newly developed programmes for secondary schools also being well received. Orokonui’s education programmes currently reach more than 6,000 students each year, in and outside of the ecosanctuary. Several departments of the University of Otago regularly use the sanctuary for teaching and research.

Objectives to 2030 (the river) Resources (the kayak)  To have each school age child in Dunedin visit  The current education room is Orokonui at least twice during their school inadequate to service current career: once at primary and once at demand - a new education building secondary/intermediate of approximately 350m2 is being  To have children from elsewhere in Otago planned visit at least once  Staff in school age programmes will  To have all Dunedin secondary/intermediate increase from 1.5 eft to 2.5, life science programmes include Orokonui primarily in secondary level  To extend education into new segments  Specialist staffing with skills for including adult education and therapeutic adult education programmes will programmes require 1eft  To grow sources of income other than LEOTC, to include adult education programmes Strategies (the paddle)  Extend reach of new secondary Challenges and risks (the rocks) programmes to all schools offering  Sustaining quality to an expanded life science credits number of school children and a broader  To expand education offerings to scope of offerings in adult education community education, university,  Changes in Ministry of Education funding therapeutic programmes, adult education, and professional model for LEOTC at some point over the development for teachers and

decade others who use the outdoors in

their professional practice  Education and training programmes for adult markets to be self-funding

Research

 … in a standardised format compatible with the data planning and management tools used at Orokonui, and by suppliers of source data such as Dunedin City Council and the Department of Conservation  All research to meet the standards of good science

Challenges and risks (the rocks)  Inadequate peer review of research leading to poor science and reputational damage Orokonui offers a unique and easily accessible  Breakdown in relationship with site to study native fauna and flora of the South research partners Island in a predator free environment. Use of the  Incomplete and inaccessible data ecosanctuary for research continues to grow strongly, much of it stemming from the University  Security of the research database; of Otago. The Orokonui Knowledge Group (OKG) is inadequate data back-up a committee of research scientists and practitioners that advise on direction and Resources (the kayak) management of research in the ecosanctuary.  Install IT capacity to store research data at the sanctuary The next 10 years should see more active  Develop GIS mapping capability management of research in the sanctuary:  People resources and training comprehensive capture, storage and dissemination of research data; and a more proactive role in adequate to manage the quantum shaping research projects. Particular potential of research projects and data exists for research on native plant and habitat capture, storage, and conservation and restoration programmes; pest dissemination - probably 1 eft by eradication and control; species translocation and 2030 population establishment; environmental education; effectiveness of education and the Strategies (the paddle) visitor experience.  Upgrade and regularly update the

research page of the website Objectives to 2030 (the river)  Research publications to be  OKG to take a more proactive role in available through the website specifying areas of research to be done in the sanctuary - 11 areas of research have  Wider dissemination of research been identified results through seminars, talks,  All research data to be captured, stored newsletters and easily accessible at no cost  Raise funds for an Annual Research  Data to be current and updated at regular Scholarship intervals ...

Our Partners

Orokonui is only one of many organisations Resources (the kayak) seeking to make New Zealand safe again for its  Strong recognition and support for indigenous fauna and flora. From its inception, Orokonui in the Dunedin community, Orokonui has enjoyed strong collaborative Department of Conservation, the partnerships with the Department of University Conservation, Kāti Huirapa ki Puketeraki, the  Probability that public support for University of Otago, the Otago Polytechnic, the conservation and restoration will Ministry of Education, and many others. Lately strengthen increasing numbers of corporates have sought  Growing numbers of community-led to support our mission with sponsorships. conservation projects

Less obvious but fundamental to our success are the hundreds of volunteers, directors and trustees, neighbours, donors, and above all the entire Dunedin community.

Over the next 10 years the potential for collaborations will grow strongly. Orokonui is a founding member of the Predator Free Dunedin Trust that will be leading predator removal across the Dunedin region. Regional and City Councils will play an increasingly important role in biodiversity restoration.

Objectives to 2030 (the river) Strategies (the paddle)  To sustain (and where necessary create)  Survey key stakeholder attitudes strong collaborative relationships with towards Orokonui partners crucial to meeting the  Create and sustain effective ecosanctuary’s objectives relationships with all parties crucial to  Sustain and extend the ecosanctuary’s meeting the ecosanctuary’s objectives reputation in Dunedin as a leader in  community-led conservation and Sustain strong media profile for the restoration ecosanctuary across media, in  To sustain and extend Orokonui’s Dunedin and beyond, including expert contribution to bringing indigenous testimonials, visitor education, and birds and habitat back to the Dunedin volunteer experiences district  Grow the membership of the Otago Natural History Trust (ONHT), and Challenges and risks (the rocks) involve members more fully in the  Loss of reputation and support from activities of the ecosanctuary any of Orokonui’s key stakeholders  Further develop health and safety  Weak profile with key stakeholders practices and management of  Competition ahead of collaboration accidents  Sabotage, poaching  Accidents weaken the sanctuary’s reputation as a safe place to visit

Our People

Orokonui is a family as well as a project. Challenges and risks (the rocks) Everybody involved with the ecosanctuary  Failure to manage the pressures of future shares a commitment to the great cause of growth: loss of motivation in staff and making New Zealand safe again for indigenous volunteers species that will otherwise disappear from the  Volunteer and staff burnout world. As of 2019, there are 12 eft employed  Loss of key staff from a small staff base staff. In addition, almost one-third of the work with limited overlap in expertise is done by volunteers who contribute to every  Increasing competition for volunteer time area of Orokonui’s activity. from other conservation programmes, offset by rising awareness and Aspirations for 2030 will require an additional empowerment of the local community 9.5 eft across reception, guides, café, rangers, infrastructure, education and research. Need for volunteers is expected to double to support a doubling in visitor numbers, three Resources (the kayak) translocations, development of migration  Dedicated expert staff and volunteers corridors from ecosanctuary to the wider  A strong culture of shared commitment to district, expanded education programmes, the conservation cause improved physical and IT infrastructure, and an  Pride in membership of an outstanding increasing number of research projects. conservation enterprise  Staff numbers to expand by 80% and Objectives to 2030 (the river) volunteer hours by 100% by 2030  To expand numbers of staff and volunteers to support future growth and sustain high quality in all Orokonui Strategies (the paddle) programmes  Effective recruitment, induction and  To sustain Orokonui’s family culture training of new staff and volunteers  Regular social gatherings for staff and volunteers to sustain our culture of shared enterprise  Effective staff management and motivation: agreeing target outcomes, celebrating achievement, appropriate remuneration

Our Assets

Orokonui has always been careful to ensure the financial sustainability of the project. The ecosanctuary has always achieved cash surpluses Projections of revenue and and is now close to covering depreciation expenses to 2028 expenses too. Revenue is derived from several 2500 different sources. Financial contributions from 2000 local and central government now make up less 1500 than 2% of total revenue. Over the last 4 years, 1000 revenues have grown at an average 8% p.a. 500

0 Financial projections for the next 10 years 2018 2028 lo 2028 hi suggest small surpluses of revenue over expenditure in both high-growth and low-growth total revenue total expenses scenarios. Significant investments in new assets will be required for an education building and upgrade to the fence. These will require external Resources (the kayak) funding.  Reputation as being financially sound and responsible; comprehensive Objectives to 2030 (the river) financial reporting and accountability  ONHT to raise capital funds sufficient to  Strong and experienced governance secure the integrity of the ecosanctuary’s structure, trustees and directors infrastructure and support planned  Sponsorship support from local growth in its operations businesses  OEL to sustain revenue growth at  Diversified revenue streams – not inflation plus 7% p.a. and 2% return on critically dependent on any one revenue undepreciated historic cost assets stream  To build assets held by the Orokonui  Financial reporting is current and Foundation to $2 million relevant

 Cash and investment reserves to be 50% of total asset base Strategies (the paddle)  Self-generated income (excluding grants)  Sustain growth in all revenue sources to rise to 90% of total revenues sufficient to meet costs of planned growth including a 2% return on Challenges and risks (the rocks) undepreciated assets  Large-scale loss of revenue due to  Develop comprehensive rolling 3-year extensive damage to fence, fire financial plan to meet asset-  Weaker revenue and capital funding due maintenance, investment and to competition for funds from other operational expenses projects  Develop a comprehensive financial risk  Weakened reputation and awareness: management plan, reviewed annually loss of members, sponsors, visitors  Institute annual review of progress  Inadequate governance oversight of against strategic and financial plans operational (OEL) and capital (ONHT) involving ONHT, OEL and senior staff development  Sustain a high standard in appointments  Inaccurate and incomplete management to ONHT trustees and OEL directors information