Te Kopi Wildlife Sanctuary Estates
Pelorus Sound, Marlborough, New Zealand
Sanctuary estates are rare and beautiful properties. The first few are to be released to the market from the summer of 2013.
Sanctuary Estates Feature...
Come to a place...
Where you can, as a private right, walk or mountain bike (on separate trails) for several hours in a choice of directions, through virgin and regenerating native bush. Return from your day on the estate, unwind, enjoy the changing light on the magnificent land and seascapes, and witness a diverse wildlife perform its evening rituals. A sanctuary estate is a lifestyle property neighbouring a working wildlife sanctuary and the small network of other sanctuary estates.
The outer Pelorus Sound has a mild all-year-round climate with wonderful summers, and some of the highest recorded annual sunshine hours in New Zealand. In July 2009 there was one highly unusual but bountiful coating of snow.
There is abundant natural fresh water to all sanctuary estate sites. The properties in Big Valley feature a stream and idyllic swimming holes. The native forests established on the properties should become valuable financial assets for the fortunate owners of future generations. Given the vastness of the marine environment in addition to the terrestrial reach of the sanctuary estates, opportunities for leisure activities are virtually unlimited. All can be enjoyed in a setting of extraordinary natural beauty, shared mainly with an unusual breadth of native wildlife.
Covenants are to be individually considered and although resting mainly in indigenous biodiversity, can contemplate provision for food production and commercialisation of permanent indigenous forests.
More Information Concerning Hunting and Fishing, Livestock and Local Produce
More Information Concerning Hunting and Fishing, Livestock and Local Produce
Pigs, goats and deer still traverse the greater sanctuary. Controlling their numbers assists with ecological goals. Therefore, hunting (with qualified sanctuary staff) presents another recreational option, and another possible source of food, for the imaginable future.
It is only a short boat trip out into the Cook Strait where the fishing options are diverse. The fishing runs are still finding their natural measure, but look likely to become sustainable, certainly for recreational fishing (particularly with ongoing responsive management).
Livestock might be kept with neighbouring farms by agreement. Resident sanctuary proprietors may wish to grow (biodiversity safe) fruit and vegetables on their land, or this could be similarly contracted out, perhaps to the wildlife sanctuary as the tourism operation grows.
Sanctuary estates can be conveniently accessed in different and interesting ways
Many local residents enjoy taking their time on the beautiful drive out from Rai Valley, and appreciate the convenience of access that this provides for their otherwise island-like properties.
Boating can provide a comfortable and relaxing method of accessing the sanctuary estates, particularly given the inner coastal (lake-like) nature of the maritime access. The town of Havelock, with its extensive marina, is located on the main road between Blenheim and Nelson, and is the most convenient port. Havelock as an excellent alternative future as nature tourism hub for the Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds. Transit by seaplane or helicopter is also available from Wellington, Nelson or Blenheim/Picton. However, with the exception of the north facing ‘Yellow Cliffs’ estate (with its solid jetty, excellent beaches and sheltered deep water mooring), all sanctuary estates possess the security of excellent road access.
More information concerning access
More information concerning access
The manager of the Bulwer lodge can assist sanctuary proprietors in accessing their properties, should they not have their own transport. A dependable water taxi service is also available. With notice, the club will provide a boat and skipper to escort proprietors to their properties.
'The Elusive' is comfortable in all sounds conditions, and will also be available for charter by club members wishing to cruise or fish in the outer sounds and Cook Strait. Transfers by road to sanctuary estates from the hub at Bulwer can, in all cases, be efficiently arranged by the lodge management.
An investment in a sanctuary estate is an investment in the environment
The improvement in wildlife has been steady through the last decade, and should continue to pleasantly surprise over the next decade. The sanctuary is committed to continuing its efforts to regenerate native biodiversity within the larger sanctuary, for as long as it continues.
Learn more about the wildlife on sanctuary estates
Learn more about the wildlife on sanctuary estates
Purchase of sanctuary estates will help secure a wilderness reserve at the end of a long and intricate series of landforms, which roads have only just reached. Already, birdsong has returned. Weka have been translocated to Government Conservation (DoC) land, so large have their numbers been in recent years. Weka, together with fantails, tui and bellbirds, are constant and engaging companions on the land. A breadth of other species are rarer but can be seen in specific locations, or more infrequently.
There is also an unusually rich diversity of marine biology in the Cook Strait, Admiralty Bay and Pelorus Sound. This includes a large range of sea mammals that can be seen daily around the various bays, and a large range of seabirds including spectacular diving gannets and little blue penguins.
Rarity of native ecosystems
If the market really does recognise rarity, properties endowed with beautiful attributes, particularly those within native ecosystems, independent fresh natural water supply, enjoying great other amenity, surely should appreciate in value if they become rarer?
Pressure seems likely to remain, or even increase, on natural resources and on the natural environment (except as specifically provided for). Why would public policy and the market diverge on value after all?
Having posed these questions, it is also clear that the financial wellbeing of markets has generally suffered since the financial crisis and that financial values might take time to recognise intrinsics.
Sanctuary proprietors have the option of putting their residences, once constructed, into management by the proprietors' club for hospitality, in order to generate income. From time to time, the sanctuary may have a use for even undeveloped sites. Given the development of policy or markets, there are other possible sources of income relating to the individual properties, such as the sale of carbon credits or even biodiversity, or some form of environmental service credit. The district council has programmes to assist landowners conduct biodiversity programmes. Forest management also offers opportunity.
Learn more about the construction of residences on sanctuary estates
Learn more about the construction of residences on sanctuary estates
Along with a host of survey information, designs for a residence are provided with each estate, and can be constructed by the project team and its contractors pursuant to bespoke agreements with sanctuary proprietors. The designs provided have been considered over many years, and provide resolution for the architectural "big issues" - passive solar effect, indoor/outdoor living, and the presentation of views. Construction is designed in stages to facilitate early private use, whilst considering eventual full utilisation of the site. The draft designs can benefit from further personal input and are available for immediate viewing upon request.
Whether domestic or overseas, sanctuary proprietors must decide whether or not to register for the New Zealand Goods and Services Tax (GST), which allows GST on the estate investment to be claimed back. Individual professional advice should naturally be taken, but if the intention is to invest for a financial return generated from letting the estate for a portion of the year (whilst perhaps maintaining exclusivity of use at other chosen times of the year), then it might make sense to register and claim back the GST. We do not know how long an overseas sanctuary proprietor would, in these circumstances, be permitted to wait before commencing construction. On the other hand, if the purchase is intended to be a long-term family hold, with little investment likely for the medium term, then perhaps the GST should not be claimed back, and the ongoing costs associated with choosing to register not incurred. Registration could yet be appropriate when a decision to construct is eventually made.
Lifestyle property purchases of this nature by overseas persons are regulated by the Overseas Investment Office (OIO). Full information is available at the OIO website. The Sanctuary will assist with an overseas purchaser making an application to the OIO. There is related and ongoing investment in the local and regional economy and in the natural environment by Te Kopi.
Membership of a club provides members with additional benefits
The "Sanctuary Proprietors' Club", of which sanctuary proprietors become members, will provide a range of privileges and services to its membership. In particular, members will benefit from various access rights to around 100km of walking and mountain biking trails. Sanctuary proprietors can stay in the lodge at Bulwer without charge, for a certain amount of days per annum, over a multi-year period, until their own residences are constructed.
Learn more about the club membership benefits
Learn more about the club membership benefits
As mentioned, a concierge service operating from the Bulwer lodge can assist with access to and from the properties. The club will also handle the letting of properties for tourism. There will be some costs associated with the club, but these will not be substantial and will principally relate to the upkeep of various access ways and the cost of administration. The club will also provide an inexpensive service to maintain pest trapping lines on individual properties if desired (properties in the letting pool are to be subscribed to the service as part of the letting arrangement).
To maintain the exlusivity and ambience of the sanctuary, the sanctuary proprietors' club will balance its club members' interests by maintaining final approval in respect of the sanctuary estate residence designs. It will be adivised in this capacity by a board of NZ registered architects that can also act for sanctuary proprietors in respect of design, as a complimentary part of the club service, or who will confer with a sanctuary proprietor's chosen architect. It is thought that a common sense approach can operate to identify the specific issues relating to each estate, and thereby achieve the best aesthetic and comfort result for the club's members.
Value-added investment will continue in the background sanctuary
Further infrastructure will be established within the sanctuary over the coming years. As new facilities and amenity are introduced, the subsequent value of all sanctuary estates should be reinforced. Employment can also thus be provided in a relatively remote area, and opportunities established for regional growth.
More information on new amenity to be established at the sanctuary
More information on new amenity to be established at the sanctuary
The pest-fence at the Te Kopi sanctuary will be completed. Te Kopi will then undergo an intensive form of pest eradication, and reintroductions of endangered native species can begin. The Outer Pelorus Track will commence operation, but will run primarily along the ridgelines, away from the private trails.
The restaurant will commence operation at Bulwer and the lodge’s rooms will become available for guests. Any new facilities on the project will naturally link in with the walking and mountain biking routes, which seem destined to keep growing.
Plans will also be submitted for a landmark international lodge at Waitata Saddle. This is still a ten year project, but is intended to provide considerable further amenity for sanctuary estates. Of course, more detail on all development ideas is available upon request.
