Looking after our Black Stilt/Kakī

Here at Guide Hill we are actively restoring and protecting an important habitat area for the Black stilt/kakī.

They are the rarest wading bird in the world and a taonga species (living treasure) that is only found here in the Mackenzie Basin.

An intensive captive breeding programme has restored their population in recent years and Guide Hill provides a safe haven for them, especially when floods wash out their usual habitat on the expansive gravel beds of the braided River.

Restoring our Bolton’s Gully that connects to Lake Pukaki

Bolton’s Gully is an integral ecological corridor that plays an important role in connecting the Black Hole wetland (located near the accommodation areas) and the ecosystems surrounding Lake Pūkākī.

This green spine is home to a number of threatened species that are found only in the Mackenzie Basin.

Ongoing restoration work including fencing, removal of invasive trees and planting native trees has been carried out to support the long-term regeneration of this corridor.

Looking after the Te Kōhai/Maryburn Drylands Area

Half of the threatened plants in Aotearoa New Zealand are found in dryland ecosystems. Not only do these drylands provide an iconic backdrop for the Mackenzie Basin, they are also home to a diverse range of vulnerable plants, lizards, invertebrates and other native wildlife.

At Guide Hill Station, our heritage of low-impact sheep farming plays a key role in us looking after the sensitive dryland ecosystems that are found here.