Cape Sanctuary: Hope, Wildlife and a 500-Year Vision

Cape Sanctuary: Hope, Wildlife and a 500-Year Vision

From The Tourism Chat Show by Destinate NZ

May 26, 2026 · 28 min · Episode 144

About this episode

Michelle chats with Aimee Pitcher about Cape Sanctuary's conservation efforts and the role of tourism in supporting wildlife restoration.

In this episode of The Tourism Chat Show, Michelle chats with Aimee Pitcher from Cape Sanctuary, a remarkable 2,500-hectare private conservation project on the Cape Kidnappers Peninsula in Hawke’s Bay. Aimee shares the story behind Cape Sanctuary’s 20-year restoration journey, from the 10.5km predator-proof fence to the return of 23 locally extinct species, more than one million native trees planted, and the extraordinary contribution of over 200 active volunteers. The conversation explores the importance of private conservation, the power of long-term vision, and why tourism - done carefully and intentionally - could help support the sanctuary’s future. Aimee also shares why the Ocean Beach side of Cape Sanctuary is now becoming a key focus for future visitor experiences, with its restored dunes, wildlife, coastal landscapes and deeply layered conservation story. _______________________________________________ Powered by https://www.destinatenz.com If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to…

People in this episode

Host: Michelle Caldwell

Guest: Aimee Pitcher

Topics covered

  • private conservation
  • wildlife restoration
  • tourism impact
  • long-term vision
  • community involvement
  • visitor experiences

Keywords

  • Cape Sanctuary
  • wildlife
  • conservation
  • tourism
  • restoration
  • native species
  • volunteers
  • Hawke’s Bay

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Cape Sanctuary

Places: Cape Kidnappers Peninsula, Hawke’s Bay, Ocean Beach

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