Hūperei/ uhi perei/ perei or potato orchids (Gastrodia) are very unusual plants. Gastrodia spend much of the year underground as a starchy potato-like tuber, gaining their nutrients from fungal “associates”. Many plant species form a symbiosis (a biological relationship) with…
A Fantastic Night - 40 Years Below by Roger Lusby - Thank You for Your Support! What a wonderful evening we shared at our 40 Years Below by Roger Lusby, a Brook Waimārama Sanctuary Fundraiser. We are incredibly grateful to…
40 Years Below - Roger Lusby presents 40 Years Below a Year in Antarctica. Fifty-five years ago, Roger Lusby wintered over as base mechanic at Scott Base Antarctica. Over the last three years he has created a personal audio-visual show…
Thanks to MD Outoors & Patagonia! MD Outdoors have made a donation of $1,798 to support the Sanctuary recently. MD Outdoors is a small independent outdoor shop in Nelson. If you haven't been yet, you definitely should pop in, they…
Rebuilding After the Storm In May 2025, an extraordinary burst of rain hit the Sanctuary—so intense that it overwhelmed both the rain gauge at Third House and the river flow meter in the Brook. With both instruments knocked out, the…
Peanut Butter and Conservation! Thanks to the team at Pic's Peanut Butter, who have been a long-time supporter of the Sanctuary: Heres what they have to say. At Pic’s Peanut Butter, sustainability is at the heart of what we do,…
When people talk about the South Island, they usually start with the big icons: Aoraki, Milford Sound, Queenstown. And fair enough. The South Island is packed with headline scenery. But if you want your trip to feel like more than…
Quick Summary Brook Waimārama Sanctuary is the South Island's largest fenced wildlife sanctuary, protecting 690 hectares of native forest just 10 minutes from Nelson city centre. The pest-free sanctuary is home to kiwi birds (kiwi pukupuku), the world's largest population…