Not all sponsorships are running short as retail sales retract.

At Mitre 10, the combination of sales from a Kids Art calendar and a range of NZ native grasses have led to an outstanding cheque for over $55,000 made out to the Department of Conservation for their Takahe Recovery efforts which are spread throughout New Zealand. 

Mitre 10 CEO Craig Wilson made the cheque presentation today taking time out of his South Island tour of duty to ‘inspect’ the Takahe Rescue programme that Mitre 10 have been sponsoring for over 4 years – making it one of the longest running species conservation programmes in conservation history. 

Phil Tisch, head of Takahe Recovery, Department of Conservation says he is ‘blown away’ by the surprise cheque that comes on top of the annual Mitre 10 sponsorship commitment stating that the extra funds will provide a welcome boost to recovery efforts at Mana, Tiritiri, Maud and Kapiti Islands. 

“ We have breeding pairs located at each of these islands and each year we return any young chicks back to the wild in Murchison Mountains after they have wintered over and acclimatized at our Burwood facility on the outskirts of Te Anau. The cost of running the logistical exercise which includes quarantine and disease risk screening is expensive and yet it is vital to have small populations of Takahe scattered as a precaution against any outbreak – of disease or pests."

The donation amounts are particularly needed as the Takahe population was dealt a savage blow by a spate of stoat attacks in 2007. 

Paula Arblaster, Brand and Strategy Manager, Mitre 10, says she is grateful for the support of Mitre 10 customers in purchasing the Takahe Rescue products over the year. The Takahe Rescue range of NZ Native grasses have continued to be a great favourite for gardeners and landscapers. The childrens art calendar, showing top entries from the Takahe Art competition has also been popular; “Selling the calendar is part of achieving our aim to inspire and educate children about this iconic native species. We get so much feedback from the children about their excitement at being in the calendar and some have also started their own fundraising activities at their schools.”