The Fantail Trust.Org.Nz.2020VerifiedRegistered
To create a native bird sanctuary in the Rakaia Gorge, New Zealand
Last updated by the charity: 45 days ago — 7 September 2026
The mission is to create a native bird and plant sanctuary in the Rakaia Gorge, Canterbury, New Zealand. The aim is to remove all predators such as possums, rats, stoats and weasels. 
The Fantail Trust is run by two trustees and a few volunteers who check the traps and maintain the traplines. So far over 650 traps have been installed and over 4000 predators have been removed. 
The area is covered in native forest of regional significance with many plants found only here. But it suffers from predation by possums and rats. 
The bird population is mainly fantails, bellbirds, grey warblers, kereru and silvereyes. There are other non native birds as well like song thrushes and blackbirds.