A superb article about an iconic Kāpiti family is featured in an article by Lee-Anne Duncan and photos by Tessa Chrisp of This New Zealand Life.
The vast majority of Kāpiti Island is a nature reserve. But 20 hectares of the iconic island is privately owned by a whānau dedicated to preserving their whakapapa including the land and everything upon it and sharing it with the world.
On Kāpiti Island the birds most definitely call the tune. Along with their never-ending song, they’re a constant physical, feathery presence. Loud rustling in the bush beside walking tracks could be concerning had not all mammals bar humans been eradicated since 1996. Despite that, Manaaki Barrett has a few warnings as he welcomes visitors to his family’s Kāpiti Island Nature Tours lodge.
Full Article here: https://thisnzlife.co.nz/meet-the-barrett-whanau-the-guardians-of-bird-lovers-paradise-kapiti-island-and-kapiti-island-nature-tours-lodge/
