Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari - Creating a new pathway for investment in nature

Protecting the world’s largest pest-proof fenced ecosanctuary is a long-term commitment. Across 3,363 hectares, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari provides a safe haven for more than 730 native species, including an estimated 3,000 North Island brown kiwi. Maintaining the predator-proof fence, restoring habitats and monitoring species requires reliable funding, not just for the next project or funding round, but for generations to come.

To meet this challenge, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari partnered with Ekos to launch Aotearoa New Zealand’s first verified biodiversity credits. The Nature Credits programme generated more than $200,000 in retail sales since launch, establishing a new revenue stream for conservation and giving organisations a transparent way to invest in nature.

Nature Credits turn conservation into investment

Nature Credits provide Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari with a new approach for investing in nature and a more reliable way to sustain its conservation work over the long term. Unlike traditional donations or philanthropy, credits are issued against conservation work completed within the sanctuary each year, with validation and verification provide by an independent auditor McHugh and Shaw.

This approach gives buyers a clear connection between their purchase and conservation work on the ground, from restoring habitats to protecting native species. For Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, the credits provide an additional source of income to sustain the vital mahi of protecting and restoring te taiao.

Bringing the idea to life took four years. Working alongside sanctuary, iwi partners, board members, funders, conservation organisations and the wider community, Ekos developed a model grounded in scientific rigour, integrity and transparency.

Annual verification helps maintain the integrity of the credits and builds market confidence. Nature Credits are now embedded in Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari’s long-term strategy, supported by a dedicated business development manager and a wider team actively growing the programme’s profile and opportunities.

Pioneering a market and proving its potential

Launching one of the earliest verified biodiversity credit models globally meant stepping into largely uncharted territory. There was no established buyer base or clear national framework to follow, and most organisations had never encountered biodiversity credits before. Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari had to anticipate where the market was heading while showing potential buyers how the credits are verified, what sets them apart from carbon credits and traditional donations, and how they offer a credible way to invest in nature-positive outcomes.

“Being first to market means building awareness, trust and demand from scratch. The early response shows there is real appetite for credible ways to invest in nature, giving us confidence that Nature Credits can strengthen the sanctuary while sustaining conservation for generations to come.”

The response provided compelling proof of demand. More than $200,000 in Nature Credits have been sold to date, and in May 2026 alone, sales reached $36,855, representing 43% of biodiversity credit transactions recorded globally that month, according to Bloom Labs’ Monthly Market Overview.

The additional funding gives Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari greater financial certainty and supports its wider conservation mahi. Buyers can also connect their investment with tangible outcomes, including the translocation of more than 800 kiwi to protected sites over the past four years.

Tourism Industry Aotearoa backs nature through TRENZ

For Tourism Industry Aotearoa, TRENZ provided an opportunity to support a member organisation pioneering a new approach to conservation funding.

Through the purchase of verified Nature Credits from Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari via Ekos, TRENZ helped direct investment towards the sanctuary’s ongoing work to protect native species, restore habitats and maintain its wider conservation mahi.

The initiative also demonstrated how tourism events and organisations can make considered choices that contribute to nature-positive outcomes.

By supporting a home-grown solution, TIA was able to back innovation within the industry while recognising the close connection between a thriving natural environment and the long-term future of tourism in Aotearoa.

Scaling the vision for nature

Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is building Nature Credits as a repeatable, long-term conservation finance model, not a short-term fundraising campaign. Its selection for the New Zealand Government’s biodiversity credit system pilot gives the sanctuary an opportunity to share what it has learned and help shape the emerging national approach.

“Our ambition is bigger than creating a new revenue stream for one sanctuary. We want to build a long-term model that helps other conservation projects attract investment and contributes to a credible biodiversity credit ecosystem across Aotearoa.”

The sanctuary’s leadership is also gaining wider recognition, with finalist placements in innovation and sustainability categories at the 2026 Waikato Business Awards, alongside national recognition in the 2026 New Zealand Tourism Awards.

Looking ahead, the team is expanding engagement with corporate, philanthropic and international buyers, while exploring nature-enriched products and services with sectors including construction, fuel, beverages, insurance and vehicles.

Over time, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari hopes its experience will help other conservation projects adopt similar approaches, opening new opportunities for biodiversity investment across Aotearoa.

Ready to turn a good idea into lasting impact?

Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari demonstrates what bold thinking, innovation and long-term vision can achieve. Akiaki’s Investment and Innovation course helps tourism businesses bring that same future focus to their own decisions, building resilience and investing for sustainable growth. All Akiaki courses are free for TIA members and their staff. Register here.

To learn more about Nature Credits and how you can support verified conservation outcomes in Aotearoa New Zealand, visit the Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari website.