
Tara iti chick - Aotearoa's most endangered bird. Photo: DoC
Make A Donation Here
Give our most vulnerable species
the best chance
Choose a project below to enable positive change for Aotearoa’s most endangered species
Help Save the World's Smallest Dolphin - the Critically Endangered Māui
The Māui Dolphin is one of the rarest and most endangered marine mammals in the world, with less than individuals left. Urgent action is needed to protect this species from extinction.
Your support will help draw attention to the issues facing the Māui dolphin, including destructive fishing practices, the solutions that are needed and empower the public to take action to make a difference.
Protect What's Precious - Every Month!
New Zealand’s most endangered treasures — the tara iti (NZ fairy tern), the Māui dolphins, and our freshwater fish — are fighting for survival.
They can't wait. They need champions like you.
By becoming a monthly donor, you fund real, on-the-ground action:
✅ Protecting nesting sites
✅ Safeguarding marine habitats
✅ Restoring rivers and wetlands
Become a monthly supporter today, and get this hardy mug that will stand the test of time. Together, we can tip the balance toward survival — and a thriving future.
Gift a Shag
Some shags are rare these days - but don't worry - you can get a shag for yourself or gift it to a friend.
Everyone who gets a shag will receive an official certificate for the critically endangered Chatham Shag, and a factsheet about this wonderful bird and what needs to be done to protect it.
Please click below to make a donation. You will receive your receipt automatically and after this, we will email your official certificate and link to the factsheet and more information about this precious, endangered bird.
Stop Sandmining Bream Bay
McCallum Bros Ltd plans to extract 9 million cubic metres of sand from the seabed over the next 35 years, pushing the project through the Fast Track process — silencing communities and removing public consultation. This destructive proposal threatens seabeds, marine life, endangered species and local livelihoods while offering no benefits to the community.
We need your help to stop this now.
Your donation will promote the petition, support on-the-ground efforts, raise awareness through media, and pressure decision-makers to reject this project. Every signature and every dollar brings us closer to protecting Te Akau Bream Bay for future generations. Donate today!
Awhi Awa | Embrace a Stream
Our new project "Awhi Awa | Embrace a Stream" is dedicated to restoring waterways. By looking after streams and improving stormwater management, we can help our precious biodiversity like endangered freshwater fish and tuna, long-fin eel. In 2017, 76 percent of our native freshwater fish were either threatened with or at risk of extinction.
Your Awhi Awa | Embrace a Stream pack includes:
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Information on how to adopt a stream and why we need to restore the health of our waterways
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Metal signage of an endangered tuna (longfin eel) or kōanga (native fish) made of scrap steel, with drill and screws
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Education material about endangered freshwater fish
We Love You, Even If You're Ugly
At the Endangered Species Foundation we save the rarest of the rare. From giant weta fungus to the little known fuzzweed moth - we really do love you, even if you're ugly.
By adopting a little known creature in danger of extinction, your donation will go towards helping our most endangered taonga survive.
When you adopt a species, you will receive an official adoption certificate and link to the factsheet about your species from the Endangered Species Foundation.
Cute Chicks Need Our Help
Every year on our beaches, in our forests and rivers, native birds are hatching. These places are their homes and their nurseries. There are many threats to these precious taonga, like wild and domestic cats, and dogs off-leash.
When you sponsor a cute chick, you will receive an official certificate and a link to a flyer about you can help keep cute chicks safe.
Your donation will go towards raising awareness of how people can make a difference, so together we can ensure greater protections for some of our most vulnerable, native chicks.