ABOUT ROTOROA ISLAND
The Rotoroa Island Trust's vision is for the island to become a sanctuary where people can experience the wonder of New Zealand wildlife. The Trust strives to be a leader in conservation management and education while respecting Rotoroa Island's heritage as a place of recovery and renewal.
Rotoroa Island has undergone a significant transformation since
the Rotoroa Island Trust was established in 2008. Over 20,000 pine
trees have been felled to make room for 400,000 native plants-and
that's just the beginning.
In 2012, the Trust formed an innovative partnership with
Auckland Zoo. The aim was to repopulate the island with native
species in need of care and sanctuary, and to develop a model of
wildlife management that could be used to underpin a unique
conservation education programme. The Trust and Auckland Zoo hope
to inspire a generation of young New Zealanders to love and respect
the Hauraki Gulf through the experience they have on Rotoroa
Island.
The Rotoroa Island Trust is a NEXT
Foundation project funded by the Hutton Wilson Charitable Trust
- both of which have been created with generous gifts from Neal and
Annette Plowman. Thanks to the vision of the Plowmans and the
Rotoroa Island Trust, Rotoroa Island is now an idyllic wildlife
sanctuary sitting just off the coast of Auckland city and open for
everyone to enjoy.
Rotoroa Island Documentary: The Making of an Island Sanctuary (Borderless
Productions).
A HISTORY OF RENEWAL
In 1911 the Salvation Army opened Rotoroa Island as a
rehabilitation facility for alcoholics. Rotoroa Island was the
first and longest running addiction treatment centre, proudly
serving over 12,000 New Zealanders. During this period Rotoroa
Island was largely self sufficient; an early model of
self-sustainability. Vegetable gardens, working farms and sprawling
orchards provided plenty of fresh food to the island's
occupants.
Deciding that life beyond an isolated island - no matter how
beautiful - was crucial to the ongoing successful
treatment of addiction in 21st century society, the Salvation Army
disestablished Rotoroa Island's alcohol and drug rehabilitation
services in 2005, continuing its work through community based
Salvation Army Bridge programmes on the mainland. Four years later,
The Rotoroa Island Trust was established. The Trust then purchased
a 99-year lease from the Salvation Army and - along with
dedicated partners and volunteers - has been working
tirelessly to restore this unique island and reopen it to the
public.
A state-of-the-art visitor centre and museum now showcases the
island's fascinating history-from its Maori and early European
history through to its many years in private isolation as New
Zealand's first and longest running addiction treatment centre.
Rotoroa Island Documentary: A Legacy of Salvation Continues (Borderless
Productions).
OUR PARTNERS
Many businesses and individuals have helped in the restoration
of Rotoroa Island. We'd like to say thanks to the following
companies and people:
Charitable Trusts and Organisations
The Salvation Army
The Hutton Wilson Trust
Volunteer Groups
Apex
BNZ
Pernod Ricard New Zealand
PwC
Community Partners and
Associations
Auckland Zoo
DoC
Forest and Bird
Hauraki Gulf Marine Forum
Thames Coast Kiwi Care
Suppliers and Contractors
Boffa MiskellTreescape
Advanced Flight
360 Discovery Cruises
The Letter Q
Studio Alexander
Rick Pearson and Associates
The Business Advisory Group
Alsco/NZTS
BKA
Agpro
Bell Gully
ABOUT THE TRUST
Directors of The Rotoroa Island Trust Company Limited (the
Trustee) are Andrew Poole (Chairman), Ewen Anderson,
David Bateman, Simon Plowman and Andrew
Westrupp. Andrew Westrupp and David
Bateman represent the Salvation Army. Rotoroa Island Trust's
Charities Commission Registration Number is CC24437.