Our Story
The Kiwi Park is a family-owned and operated Wildlife Sanctuary
from rubbish dump to wildlife haven
Kiwi Park was not always a haven for native wildlife. Originally an unofficial rubbish tip, locals Dick and Noeleen Wilson leased the land in 1984 and began clearing the grounds with the vision of creating a wildlife sanctuary in the heart of Queenstown.
For two years they removed old car bodies, oil drums, overgrown broom and blackberry and replaced them with native trees, shrubs and built aviaries and pathways.
Fast forward 35 years, and the land is heaving with ferns, kōwhai, beech, broadleaf and more. The land is home to over 20 species of native wildlife. All of the species are part of managed conservation programs through the Department of Conservation, including the iconic Kiwi, Tuatara, South Island Kākā, Whio, Pāteke, and others.
See below photos of the Wilson family in the early days of the construction of the Kiwi Park!
