Biodiversity

Site rehabilitation and restoration

Description of habitat restoration and locationMajor species conserved or protected at siteSize of area restored in hectaresPartnership OrganisationsArea status as at 30 June 2025Frequency of monitoring and reporting of biodiversity
Torepatutahi Wetland
Wetland species including 3 at risk taxa including swamp nettle, fernbird and spotless crate  
37.8  
Ngati Tahu-Whaoa Runanga, Department of Conservation, Fish & Game and landowners   
Enhanced
We undertake biannual monitoring of ecological transects to track restoration progress*
Te Rau o Te Huia Steam
Riparian native flora and fauna species including geothermal kanuka and forked fern
45
Wairakei Ahi Tamo Ropu and Wairakei Charitable Trust 
Enhanced
We undertake annual monitoring of the project area to track restoration progress  
Waipuwerawera Stream
Riparian, wetland environments and at-risk geothermal kanuka. 
22
Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board, Taupo District Council, Pamu Farms, Department of Conservation and Wairakei Ahi Tamo Ropu
Enhanced
We undertake annual monitoring of the project area to track restoration progress 
Wairakei Geyser Valley
At-risk geothermal kanuka and geothermal ladder fern
15
Wairakei Thermal Valley, Land Information New Zealand and Wairakei Ahi Tamo Ropu
Restored 
We undertake regular monitoring of the project area to track reinvasion of pest animals
Mangaraupo Wetland
Wetland species including at risk bird fernbird
Approx. 8
Landowners, Waikato Regional Council and Wairakei Ahi Tamo Ropu
Restored 
We undertake regular monitoring of the project area to track reinvasion of pest plants 
Onekeneke Stream
Geothermal fern (cyclosorus interruptus)
Approx. 0.55
Waikato Regional Council, Ngāti Hinerau and Ngāti Hineure
Enhanced
We undertake regular monitoring of the project area to track reinvasion of pest plants 
Lower Te Kiri o Hinekai
Geothermal ferns, including christella and giant hypolepis
Approx. 6
Wairakei Resort, Wairakei Ahi Tamo Ropu
Enhanced
We undertake regular monitoring of the project area to track reinvasion of pest plants* 
Huka Block geothermal area retirement
At-risk geothermal kanuka
1
Greening Taupo
Enhanced
Annual monitoring for internal reporting 
Oruanui geothermal area retirement
At-risk geothermal kanuka and geothermal ladder fern
3.3 hectares  
Wairakei Ahi Tamo Ropu
Protected
Informally when monitoring the maintenance required 
Otumuheke Stream
Geothermal kanuka and geothermal ladder fern, cyclosorus, christella and giant hypolepis vegetation 
14  
Waikato Regional Council, Taupo District Council and Patuiwi Trust 
Restored 
We plan to undertake annual monitoring of the project area to track progress*
Ohaaki Geothermal System- Riparian and geothermal environment 
Early succession native flora and fauna and geothermal kanuka
15 
Ngati Tahu Landowner collective 
Protected
We plan to undertake annual monitoring of the project area to track progress 
Waikato River (Aratiatia Flats)
Early succession native flora and fauna
Approx. 2
Te Kotahitanga o Ngati Tuwharetoa
Enhanced
Annual monitoring for internal reporting 
Wairakei Stream
Early succession native flora and fauna
0.5
Land Information NZ
Enhanced
Annual monitoring for internal reporting 
Taupo Golf Course - Project Birdlife
Early succession native flora and fauna and restoration of geothermal kanuka and its margins
116
Taupo Golf Course, Greening Taupo
Protected
We plan to undertake annual monitoring of the project area to track progress 
WEMCT Projects (Broadlands Rd Geothermal Area, TDC Geothermal Reserves, Craters of the Moon, Maunga Kākaramea and Tauhara Ngawha)
Geothermal kanuka, at-risk geothermal ferns and its margins 
616
Wairakei Environmental Mitigation Charitable Trust (WEMCT), Greening Taupo, He Akina Ltd, Ngāti Tahu Ngati Whaoa Runanga Trust, Craters of the Moon Charitable Trust and Waikato Regional Council
Enhanced
Annual monitoring for reporting to WEMCT 
Tauhara Geothermal System - Retirement of land from pastoral agriculture to enhance biodiversity 
Early succession native flora and fauna 
25
Pamu Farms
Restored 
Annual monitoring for internal reporting 
Wairakei Tauhara Geothermal System – Reversion of exotic plantation forests to native forests to enhance biodiversity 
Conversion rom exotic plantation to early succession native flora and fauna

Pamu Farms
Restored 
Informally when monitoring the maintenance required 
Wairakei Geothermal System - Retirement of land from pastoral agriculture to enhance biodiversity
Early succession native flora and fauna
44
Greening Taupo (selected sites across Wairakei Drive)
Restored 
Annual monitoring for internal reporting 
Riparian Management- Ex Keegan (Stratford) 
Riparian native flora and fauna species
6
Taranaki Regional Council 
Enhanced
Monitored by Taranaki Regional Council as part of the riparian management plan 
Riparian management- Water intake (Stratford)
Riparian native flora and fauna species
0.5
Taranaki Regional Council 
Enhanced
Monitored by Taranaki Regional Council as part of the riparian management plan 
Gladstone Gap, Hāwea 
(Not an offset site, but required through our Hāwea Foreshore and Landscape Management Plan.)
Early succession native flora and fauna 
0.5  
Hāwea Community Association (HCA). Wānaka Backyard trapping 
Enhanced
Monitored by HCA, reviewed within HFLMP annually and formal review every 4 years, progression and work plans monitored through Biodiversity Management Plan 
As part of Native Fish programme, restoration continued at multiple locations in lower Clutha Mata-au in 2023/24  
At-risk native fish species such as inanga, tuna, kanakana and giant kōkopu 
Rutherglen: 0.26
Bobs Creek: 0.74
Riverview Farms: 0.29
Creighton Park: 0.88
Fraserdowns: 2.06
Matau Branch Matai Channel & Pond: 0.57
Koau Branch Channel: 2.02
Landsdown, PAMU Farm: 0.25
Total: 7.07
Department of Conservation 
Enhanced
Annually as part of our resource consent requirements. DOC carry out monitoring and annually provide reports. Progression and work plans monitored through Biodiversity Management Plan. 

* Independent assurance has been undertaken for the restoration work on these sites.



Description of habitat restoration and locationMajor species conserved or protected at siteActivitiesPartnershipsArea status as at 30 June 2025Monitoring and reporting frequency
Roxburgh Dam – Trap and transfer programme to facilitate the migration of native fish species 
Adult tuna, juvenile elver and kanakana 
165kg of elver were trapped and transferred above the Roxburgh Dam.

296 adult tuna caught in the upper lakes of the Clutha Mata-au and released below the Roxburgh dam.  

1 adult lamprey trapped and transferred above the Roxburgh Dam.  
NIWA, DOC 
N/A
Annually as part of our resource consent requirements. Progression and work plans monitored through Biodiversity Management Plan. 

We work with a variety of stakeholders to help identify habitats to protect and restore and we engage an Ecologist to undertake an assessment to develop a restoration plan for the particular area, including the types of management techniques necessary to address risks to biodiversity at each habitat.

In FY25 we introduced new, more useful definitions of area status. Protected = Preventing further degradation of intact ecosystems. Enhanced = Improving ecological function without full restoration. Restored = Areas that were previously degraded but have undergone active restoration to return to a more natural state.

 


Threatened species list

IUCN Red list

Level of Extinction RiskNumber of species
Critically endangered2
Endangered5
Vulnerable3
Near threatened3
Least concern29
Not evaluated7

 

New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS)

Level of Extinction Risk
Number of species
ThreatenedNationally critical2
 Nationally endangered4
 Nationally vulnerable5
 Nationally increasing1
At riskDeclining11
 Uncommon7
 Recovering1
 Naturally uncommon2
Not threatened 18

At Risk category labels were updated by the Department of Conservation on 16 January 2025.

 

Other biodiversity KPIs

KPIFY25FY24FY23FY22FY21FY20
Native trees (rakau) planted
62,978
51,212
66,339
55,206
29,068
30,806
Pests caught
3,871
2,670
3,148
4,832
3,354
2,009



Mitigating actions

Human activity is causing a decline of biodiversity in Aotearoa New Zealand, through climate change, introduced invasive species, land / sea use change, direct exploitation, and pollution. Contact takes a range of mitigating actions to reduce our impacts on biodiversity. Our efforts are informed by a mitigation hierarchy (Avoid, Minimise, Restore, Offset, Compensate). For example:

  • We regenerate and restore local biodiversity in our areas of operation. Expert environmental effects assessments are undertaken for all new sites that inform the development of operational Biodiversity Management Plans to avoid, reduce, mitigate or restore any impacted biodiversity at all sites. The plans set out physical work priorities for steps like exclusion fencing, native tree planting, pest plant & animal control and establishing riparian margins. Contact and DOC have been working with landowners and volunteers at multiple sites in the lower Clutha Mata-au catchment over a number of years to enhance freshwater fish habitat. As well as benefiting native fish, the fencing and riparian planting provide a buffer to waterways from stock damage, run-off, bank erosion and sedimentation.
  • We engage independent ecologists and consult with tangata whenua to advise on and deliver ecological restoration plans for critical biodiversity and unique ecosystems. This includes native tuna (eel) and kanakana (lamprey) on the Clutha Mata-Au and geothermal vegetation across the three geothermal fields we operate on. The plans identify critical biodiversity issues and provide a blueprint for prioritising and restoring the areas, normally over several years.
  • We seek as a priority to avoid impacts on biodiversity where practicable, a consideration through the Resource Management Act process. For example, reconfiguration and refinement of the Southland Wind Farm footprint has been an iterative process undertaken by Contact in collaboration with expert ecologists to minimise the effects on habitat loss associated with vegetation removal. This exercise has been undertaken to avoid, where practicable, impacts on high and very high value habitats and associated species, including the use of pre-existing roads to the greatest extent possible. 
  • Where we cannot fully avoid impacts on biodiversity, we reduce our impact on local flora and fauna, for example through our native fish trap and transfer programmes around our hydro power stations, and the monitoring and mitigation for losses of the rare geothermal vegetation around our geothermal operations. We will also continue to plant more than 20,000 indigenous plants annually to help restore and enhance biodiversity.
  • We transform areas of exotic forest (once harvested) with indigenous species on land we own. We recently harvested 7 hectares of exotic forest and replanted the area in a mixture of indigenous species, planting over 15,000 plants. We also return and/or transform pasture into indigenous forest on our land where it is not sustainable for pastoral agriculture, to enhance biodiversity corridors throughout our areas of operation. For example, the Stratford Riparian Management Plan directed by the Taranaki Regional Council identifies areas that are not suitable for pastoral use and return these areas into indigenous vegetation.

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