
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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