Our Commitment to Conservation on Stewart Island

At Aurora Charters we recognise that we are privileged to operate in one of the most special places in New Zealand and we are committed to supporting conservation projects on Stewart Island. We often assist the Department of Conservation by transporting gear and personnel if we are working in areas they need to access, particularly for New Zealand dotterel research at Port Pegasus, pest control and hut maintenance in remote areas.

We have supported the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust (YEPT) in the past by transporting personnel to remote sites around the Stewart Island coast for their on-going penguin monitoring work.

We provide information on board our vessels about current Stewart Island conservation projects and issues. We hold a Department of Conservation guiding concession and a marine mammal watching permit which allows us to show and educate visitors about some of our unique plant and wildlife communities.

Financial Support

Aurora Charters are proud supporters of the Stewart Island/Rakiura Community and Environment Trust (SIRCET) which is working to create a safe habitat in and around the township of Halfmoon Bay for the reintroduction and survival of native birds. We sponsored the reintroduction of Stewart Island Robin / Toutouwai to the Ackers Point Scenic Reserve in Halfmoon Bay and one of our crew worked voluntarily to help capture the robins before transfer. We assist with checking rat and possum traplines in Halfmoon Bay on a regular basis and will provide on-going assistance with pest control and future projects for the Environment Trust. Aurora Charters is an annual 'Sponsor a hectare' business suppot.

 For further information on SIRCET check out www.sircet.org.nz

Stewart Island robin Photo - Ben Marzeion