Project Janszoon is working through its final year as the generous support of Neal and Annette Plowman to transform the ecological prospects of Abel Tasman National Park reaches its conclusion at the end of June 2026.
Programme Director Geoff Button, Science Advisor and Director of Operations Ruth Bollongino and Board Chair Gill Wratt have been working with The Department of Conservation (DOC) to ensure the most positive and aspirational future for the park beyond that date.
The strong partnerships we’ve built with DOC, mana whenua iwi and other partners like the Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust, have been critical to ensuring the best outcome for the ongoing maintenance of the achievements of the past 13 years.
Together we’ve controlled invasive wilding conifers, restored a rare coastal wetland and kahikatea forest at Hadfield Clearing, reduced fire risk and restored coastal dune ecosystems along the coastal track. We’ve controlled rats, possums and stoats, targeted goats, and reduced predatory threats to the level where it has been safe to reintroduce taonga species such as kākā, pāteke and whio.
We’ve seen bush robins return to the coastal track, and educated thousands of students, some of whom have gone on to careers in conservation. To say we are proud of these new kaitiaki is an understatement – they are our biggest legacy for the future.
This work would not have been possible without the once in a lifetime opportunity offered by the foresight of Devon McLean and the philanthropic investment of Annette and Neil Plowman. We’d also like to thank the countless volunteers, supporters, park visitors and followers who have been part of our journey over this time –your positivity about our work has been much appreciated.
We would also like to thank the tourism operators who have supported the programme and helped out with a huge amount of transport on the water, and the private land owners within the park boundaries who have let us include their land in the programme.
Project Janszoon is part of the Tomorrow Accord, one of several game changing conservation projects under an agreement with the New Zealand government. Once the projects achieve the agreed biodiversity outcomes, the government will maintain those gains. Project Janszoon is now at this stage.
On 1 July 2026 we will entrust the future of our work into the hands of DOC, mana whenua iwi and local communities. Restoring nature is never easy. The significant philanthropic investment and mahi by all involved has indeed transformed the ecological prospects of one of the region’s taonga, as well as creating a community of kaitiaki who hold the park close to their hearts.
