Official Opening of the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Discovery Area

11th December 2004

To commemorate the centenary of Rotary, which occurs in February 2005, the ten Wellington Rotary Clubs have been working with the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary on an exciting new development known as the Discovery Area.

This $175,000 three Stage project has now reached completion of the first 2 stages and the site will be opened to the public over the summer months. The final stage of the project, to be completed during 2005, will include construction of a lookout tower based on the original tower used during the construction of the upper dam.

Wellington Mayor and Rotarian Kerry Prendergast opens the Rotary Centennial Discovery Area at the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary

The Discovery Area was opened by Rotarian Kerry Prendergast, Mayor of Wellington and Chair of the Combined Rotary Clubs of Wellington Project Group. The District Governor Barbara Williams was a keynote speaker and the opening was attended by more than 70 Rotarians, Marion Hobbs, local MP, CityCouncillors, Sanctuary Trustees and staff. Also Macquarie New Zealand, with the support of a number of its Wellington staff who are also Rotarians, presented a cheque for $20,000 which leaves the ten Rotary Clubs with just $20,000 more to raise to complete the project.   For more photos of the Sanctaury opening click here.

Rotarians and Karori Wildlife Sanctuary staff have worked together on this inspirational project to create new plantings and new walkways within the area itself , construction of a replica workman’s hut, and the restoration of an old dump wagon used during the dam’s construction. Fundraising by Rotary Clubs throughout the Wellington area is continuing with a wide range of events occurring such as the annual Gutbuster Race around the Sanctuary fence that will become an annual event. Sale of Railway Sleepers that form steps on the pathway to the area has been another successful fundraising activity.

The ten Combined Rotary Club’s from the Wellington area involved in the "Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Rotary Centennial Discovery Project" are the Rotary Club’s of: Courtenay Place, Johnsonville, Karori, Mount Victoria, Port Nicholson, Wellington, Wellington Central, Wellington Harbour City, Wellington South and Wellington North.

Enquiries: Allan Frazer - Project Manager