Helicopter operator Heli Glenorchy is supporting conservation efforts in New Zealand’s Rees Valley by offering unused scenic flight seats to the Southern Lakes Sanctuary Trust (SLS), aiding their mission to restore biodiversity and achieve a Predator-Free 2050.

The partnership allows SLS team members to access remote parts of the valley by air, enabling pest control and ecological monitoring as part of ongoing environmental restoration. The initiative adds minimal flight time while enhancing guest experiences with insights into local conservation work.

Jess Burke, a team member at Heli Glenorchy, said the collaboration was a natural fit: “We fly over the Rees Valley every day and know it very well – why not extend a hand and help SLS out in a way that benefits everybody?”

Since SLS was established in 2021, there has been a 200 per cent increase in traps across the Southern Lakes area. Today, 13,000 predator traps are being maintained by staff and hundreds of dedicated volunteers.

When the work of SLS and available seats on a scenic helicopter flight align, an SLS staff member joins the flight into the Rees Valley. Upon arrival, they are dropped off to carry out their conservation work and then hike out of the valley.

“So far this year, we have hosted SLS crew on six flights. We typically offer them anywhere from two to five seats a week, and they take them when it works with their schedule,” Burke explained.

The initiative fits seamlessly with flight operations, adding just one extra minute to flight times for each SLS drop-off.

“The guests enjoy learning about what the SLS team is doing when they’re getting dropped off to check the traplines. It’s added another layer to their experience,” added Burke.

Heli Glenorchy’s sales and marketing executive, Annalise Sunde, pointed out that these spare-seat flights mark the beginning of an exciting collaboration. “This is a partnership we want to keep growing. We must help where we can to support the important conservation work SLS is doing.”

Southern Lakes Sanctuary CEO Paul Kavanagh added that Heli Glenorchy’s support is invaluable: “It greatly improves the efficiency of our work when monitoring wildlife, especially takahē, who have recently been returned to the valley, and for our efforts to protect this special area. Our partnership with Heli Glenorchy increases our impact and hopefully adds to the experience for their clients – a win-win for everyone, especially our native wildlife.”