IPIPIRI NATURE CONSERVANCY TRUST
The Ipipiri Trust was set up to to save the iconic Northland surf beach and surrounding native forest at Elliot Bay, in the Bay of Islands. The Trust’s vision is to preserve and respect the Māori heritage and culture of the area, protect and enhance the biodiversity, maintain public access to the beach and camping ground, and develop walking tracks to connect with others, establishing a Great Walk in the Bay of Islands.
The Trust reached an agreement to purchase the 700 hectare property critical to the project in June 2020, after raising $6million and negotiating a two year extension with the vendor Elliot family on the remaining $2million. The project was financially supported by philanthropists, more than 150 individual donors and is backed by the Department of Conservation, local hapu, local government and conservation groups.
NEXT acknowledges the leadership of the late Geoff Ricketts, founding Chair of the Trust. Geoff envisaged this special place to be preserved for current and future generations, ‘This iconic piece of Northland will now be a taonga, a treasure for all the people of Aotearoa New Zealand to enjoy.’
https://www.ipipiritrust.org.nz/