An 83-hectare reserve that's helped revive threatened wildlife species on Great Barrier Island is now in public hands.
Photo: 123RF
The Glenfern Sanctuary has been bought by the government, the Auckland Council and other public bodies, for almost $3 million, and will be run as a regional park.
It features a pest proof fence that has allowed native species to thrive away from the island's rats and feral cats.
Sanctuary manager Scott Sambell said one of the park's biggest successes was the pateke, or brown teal, which had been critically endangered but was now classed as a recovering species.
He said the black petrel and rare chevron skink were also benefiting from living in the pest-free zone.