With the hopes of ensuring the longevity of New Zealand's raptors for current and future generations, we established a sanctury in Timaru.
We retrieve and care for sick, injured and orphaned raptors until they are fit for release back to their natural habitat.
And we look after those that cannot go back into the wild.
Through our special experience, you can learn about these amazing birds, what to do if you come accross an injured bird and help us raise awareness to boost the population of our vulnerable birds of prey.
Our registered charity "The New Zealand Raptor Trust: is based in Timaru, South Canterbury and is licensed to hold all New Zealand Raptors for rescue, treatment, rehabilitation and release.
The New Zealand Raptor Trust has provided free medical care to all species of raptors since 2016. As well as experienced falconers we have an onsite vet and have sponsorship from Vetlife New Zealand. And work continues to further improve the facility.
At the core of the Trust’s mission is education and advocacy, and the sincere belief that an understanding of the role of raptors helps create a better world for us all.
We run a Raptors In Schools education programme and visit service clubs and other groups in the community across the region.
When visiting schools, Ron takes kāhu Tom Thumb, a female harrier hawk, who as a chick was nursed back to health by the trust. He talks about her story, birds of prey in New Zealand, about the trust, how it looks after raptors, what the birds eat, and what pupils can do if they find a sick or injured raptor. ‘We can talk about hawks and other birds of prey until we are blue in the face, but it’s a totally different thing to have one sitting on your arm. It’s an incredible feeling to have a hawk that you can let fly and they come back and land on your glove. It’s amazing.’
New Zealand was once home to some of the world's most magnificent birds of prey ever to existedm including the enourmous Haast's eagle and Eyles harrier. Both are now extinct. Today New Zealangs four species of raptor are being rescued, rehabilitated and released; harrier hawks (kāhu), falcon (kārearea), moreporks (ruru) and little owls.
These birds require specialist care and feeding. It is illegal for people without an adequate permit to hold these birds. They need to be surrendered to DOC or to a rescue operation like New Zealand Raptor Trust.
Fossil records show the harrier hawk came to New Zealand from Australia less than one thousand years ago. Once thought to pose a threat to introduced game birds, there was a bounty on harriers, with hundreds of thousands killed between 1860 and 1950, but since 1985 they have been protected.
Since the trusts formation, the team of volunteers secured two hectares of land from the Timaru District Council, near the Sustainable South Canterbury Trust’s eco centre in Redruth, for their sanctuary.
Formerly the local landfill, much work has been done on clearing and levelling the site. Three 40 ft containers in December 2017 arrived and were retrofitted to meet the trust’s needs, with doors and windows. One container is for administration, housing freezers, fridges and food, another for hawks and the other for owls and falcons. That winter they took on 18 birds and released 11 back into the wild.
Local Veterinarian Support
Timaru Vetlife underwrites all veterinary care and work closely with the Department of Conservation (DOC).
Raptor Experience Education Venue
South Canterbury ECO Centre is the local hub for demonstrating ideas and providing education on practical solutions for sustainability. Their 2022 facility has a presentation area which is the location of the Raptor Experience. 55 Redruth St, Timaru 7910.
scecocentre.org.nz