# Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust

**Charities Register number:** CC34709
**Status:** Registered
**Registered since:** 2008-06-30
**Sector:** Arts & Culture
**ICNPO group:** Culture and Recreation
**Region:** Pukeatua
**NZBN:** 9429043082568
**IRD donee status:** yes — donations may qualify for a tax credit

## Purpose

Ecological restoration of 3,363 hectares, Maungatautari is by far the largest pest-proof fenced project in the world. The fence encircles a major tract of scarce remnant indigenous forest in the centre of the Waikato basin. It's also New Zealand's most ambitious ecological restoration project. The fence around Sanctuary Mountain "Maungatautari is the longest pest-proof fence in the world at 47km, excluding all mammalian pests (other than mice on the main mountain), pets and livestock from getting over, under or through The large size and quality of the habitat on the maunga means it's a viable home for self-sustaining populations of many of our most endangered species — from birds to bats, frogs to reptiles, tuatara to giant weta and plant life. Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is vested in a unique iwi/community arrangement and co-governed by community trustees (Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust Board) representing landowners, mana whenua and the community.

## CharityData rating

- **Grade:** B- (74.2 / 100)
- **Financial health:** 78.2/100
- **Governance:** 65/100
- **Transparency:** 65/100
- **Computed:** 2026-09-26 (methodology 3.11)
- **Flags raised by the methodology:** none

Ratings are an analytical view computed from this charity's own filings to the Charities Register, using a published methodology: https://charitydata.co.nz/charity-insights/methodology. They are not advice and not a statement about any individual.

## Latest annual return (year ended 2025-06-30)

- **Total revenue:** NZ$2.44M
- **Total expenses:** NZ$2.47M
- **Surplus / deficit:** NZ$-34k
- **Total assets:** NZ$8.91M
- **Total liabilities:** NZ$386k
- **Net assets:** NZ$8.52M
- **Cash reserves:** NZ$190k
- **Government grants:** NZ$677k (27.8% of revenue)
- **Donations:** NZ$294k
- **Staff costs:** NZ$1.27M
- **Paid staff:** 16
- **Volunteers:** 3
- **Source filing (PDF):** https://register.charities.govt.nz/Document/DownloadPdf?pdfType=AnnualReturnSummary&relatedId=dc4a1e4b-4b56-f011-bb44-0022480ffcd1&isPublic=true

All figures are as filed by the charity with Charities Services, in New Zealand dollars.

## Filing history

| Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Surplus/deficit | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-06-30 | NZ$2.44M | NZ$2.47M | NZ$-34k | NZ$8.52M |
| 2024-06-30 | NZ$2.11M | NZ$2.66M | NZ$-548k | NZ$50 |
| 2023-06-30 | NZ$3.06M | NZ$2.91M | not disclosed | NZ$9.15M |
| 2022-06-30 | NZ$2.17M | NZ$2.25M | not disclosed | NZ$9.00M |
| 2021-06-30 | NZ$1.86M | NZ$2.03M | not disclosed | NZ$9.07M |
| 2020-06-30 | NZ$1.79M | NZ$1.74M | not disclosed | NZ$9.25M |
| 2019-06-30 | NZ$1.53M | NZ$1.77M | not disclosed | NZ$9.20M |
| 2018-06-30 | NZ$1.54M | NZ$1.70M | not disclosed | NZ$9.45M |
| 2017-06-30 | NZ$1.34M | NZ$1.67M | not disclosed | NZ$9.60M |
| 2016-06-30 | NZ$1.81M | NZ$1.72M | not disclosed | NZ$9.93M |

## Governance

- **Officers on the register:** 7 current (65 including former)
- **Chair recorded:** no
- **Auditor:** PKF Hamilton
- **Most recent audit opinion:** unqualified

Individual officers and trustees are not listed here. Their names are on the public Charities Register (https://register.charities.govt.nz/CharitiesRegister/ViewCharity?accountId=CC34709) and on the charity's profile page.

## Disclosed funders

- **Pub Charity Limited** (foundation) — NZ$112k, year ended 2021-12-31
- **Grassroots Trust Limited** (foundation) — NZ$94k, year ended 2021-12-31
- **Milestone Foundation Limited** (foundation) — NZ$45k, year ended 2021-12-31
- **Milestone Foundation** (foundation) — NZ$35k, year ended 2021-12-31
- **One Foundation** (foundation) — NZ$35k, year ended 2021-12-31
- **Trillian Trust** (foundation) — NZ$30k, year ended 2021-12-31
- **Blue Sky Community Trust** (foundation) — NZ$24k, year ended 2021-12-31
- **The North and South Trust Limited** (foundation) — NZ$18k, year ended 2021-12-31
- **Youthtown Incorporated** (foundation) — NZ$15k, year ended 2021-12-31
- **Dragon Community Trust** (foundation) — NZ$11k, year ended 2021-12-31

## Data freshness

- Register details: as of 2026-09-23
- Financials: last updated 2026-09-25
- Rating: computed 2026-09-26
- This document generated: 2026-09-28

Figures are as filed. A charity that has filed since the dates above may have newer numbers on the Charities Register.

## More data

- Charity profile: https://charitydata.co.nz/charities/maungatautari-ecological-island-trust
- Structured facts (JSON): https://charitydata.co.nz/api/v1/charities/maungatautari-ecological-island-trust/facts.json
- Short summary: https://charitydata.co.nz/api/v1/charities/maungatautari-ecological-island-trust/summary.md
- Rating methodology: https://charitydata.co.nz/charity-insights/methodology
- Official register entry: https://register.charities.govt.nz/CharitiesRegister/ViewCharity?accountId=CC34709
- Charity website: http://www.sanctuarymountain.com

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Published by [CharityData NZ](https://charitydata.co.nz). Canonical: https://charitydata.co.nz/charities/maungatautari-ecological-island-trust. Primary source: Charities Services (Ngā Rātonga Kaupapa Atawhai), Department of Internal Affairs. Analytical scores are CharityData's own, computed under a published methodology, and are not advice. Generated 2026-09-28T17:22:34.707Z.