Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre is a 942ha conservation reserve dedicated to recovery and restoration of Aotearoa New Zealand’s natural heritage. Pūkaha is a centre for captive breeding of endangered wildlife, a forest restoration project, a centre for environmental education and an important tourism destination for the region. Pūkaha is the last remnant of what was once a vast forest that stretched from the Takapau plains to Masterton. The reserve was returned to Mana Whenua Rangitāne o Wairarapa and Rangitāne o Tamaki-nui-a-Rua and in turn they have gifted it to the people of Aotearoa. The charitable organisation works in partnership with Rangitāne, DOC and the community to honour this gift and to fulfill its roles as kaitiaki.