Sponsor Puketi Forest Restoration
After more than 100 years of forest decline, our generation has the power to restore Puketi. We now have the technology, passion and commitment to control pests and awaken Puketi from its slumber. All we need is for you to share this vision by:
- Sponsoring a hectare of pest control — For $50 a year, your donation will pay for the on-the-ground pest control needed to maintain one hectare of the most precious habitat remaining in the Far North. You can also sponsor more than one hectare and for more than one year. Because of re-infestation, we need to continue doing this job each year for the foreseeable future. With your help, future generations will be able to enjoy a healthy forest full of bird life. ...Yes, I'd like to sponsor a hectare.
- Sponsoring a kilometre of track — We need to cut pest control tracks before we can set traps. Pest control tracks need to be evenly spaced at intervals throughout the forest to ensure eradication of resident pests and to capture those coming in. And once established, tracks need to be maintained on an annual basis. ...Yes, I'd like to sponsor a km of track.
- Purchasing traps — Some pests, such as stoats, can kill large numbers of birds each day. Each trap set and regularly maintained can save the lives of thousands of native birds. ...Yes, I'd like to purchase a trap.
One restored hectare of forest could support many thousands of plants and trees, billions of invertebrates, nesting kokako, foraging kaka and kiwi,hunting falcon, along with resident tomtit, tui, bellbird, robin, rifleman, saddleback, hihi, kakariki and reptiles such as skinks, geckos and tuatara.
Once you purchase a hectare or sponsor a kilometre of track, you'll receive a Sponsorship Certificate in recognition of your valuable contribution. You will be able to identify the location of your sponsored hectare on the map below.
Everyone who sponsors a hectare, a km of track or a trap becomes a member of the Trust for that year. [See Membership]
The Puketi Forest Trust is a registered charity so all sponsorship donations qualify for tax rebates in New Zealand.
Sponsored hectares are marked on this map: Click on the map to enlarge it. (1.9Mb)
Puketi Forest Capital Fund
The Trustees of the Puketi Forest Trust have always been mindful that because there is no fence and Puketi is not an island, the restoration work we are now doing will need to continue for the forseeable future. Technology and other improvements are likely to reduce the cost over time, but it still represents a significant future financial burden. The “Sponsor a hectare” model was set up to make the restoration project self funding on a year to year basis. If every hectare is sponsored in a year, the project is funded for that year with no reliance on grants, but the future financial security of the project is not guaranteed.
In order to secure the future of the project, the Capital Fund was established in 2008. This fund comprises donations that have been made expressly for the purpose of allowing the Trust to accumulate $1 million in capital. The donations collected will not be used for the day to day operations of the Trust, but invested instead. Income of the Trust is tax free because of our charitable status, so that the investment return on a fund of $1 million should be enough to fund the restoration of this unique subtropical Kauri Forest in perpetuity.
Donations to the Puketi Forest Capital Fund are a minimum of $1000. All donations qualify for tax rebates, in keeping with our Registered Charitable Trust status. The Trust's funds are protected by the rules of the Trust Deed registered under the Charitable Trust Act 1957. If for any reason the Trust ceases to exist then our deed of establishment requires us to donate any assets to other conservation projects in Northland.
To Donate to the Capital Fund:
Post a cheque, together with a note giving your name, address and contact details, to the address below. Cheques should be payable to "Puketi Forest Trust", crossed and marked: Not Transferable, A/c Payee Only.
Puketi Forest Trust
PO Box 257,
Kaeo 0448,
New Zealand.