Auckland Zoo has entered a new partnership to transform a Rotoroa Island in the Hauraki Gulf into a sanctuary for endangered species.
The $4 million project was announced today as part of the celebrations to commemorate the zoo's 90th birthday.
For the past 100 years, Rotoroa Island has been a rehab centre run by the Salvation Army for alcoholics and drug addicts.
The centre closed in 2005 when philanthropists Neil and Annette Plowman signed a 100-year lease and began a major ecological restoration project.
"It is all about developing a sanctuary," said John Gow, Rotoroa Island Trust project manager. "Initially for the people, then the trees and now for the wildlife."
Rotoroa Island has a regular ferry service, a visitors centre and accommodation, and the zoo is hoping the public will take an important part in the restoration.
"We'd love to have kids in Auckland growing up involved with the restoration of an island and really getting a sense of what it's going to take to get our ecology and our environment back in tune," said director of Auckland Zoo Jonathan Wilcken.
"We'd love to see some kiwi, some of the extraordinary reptiles of New Zealand, tuatara, skinks and so on," he said. "And let's not forget our invertebrates... seeing giant weta back on this island would be fantastic."
