Our sponsors

The project has benefitted from generous help and sponsorship from many people and organisations in Gisborne and elsewhere.

The Gisborne House of Wine, owned by award-winning winemaker John Thorpe, (Anne’s brother) has dedicated a royalty from four of his premium Longbush wines to the restoration of Longbush Reserve. Each of the premium wines is associated with one of the native birds in the bush.

The Waimata Cheese Company, owned by John’s twin brother Richard and his wife Carol Thorpe, makers of the award-winning Longbush cheeses, also supports the project. John and Richard share family memories of bike rides to Longbush, and picnics beside the Waimata River.

In addition, the restoration project at Longbush Reserve is supported by:

The Department of Conservation’s Biodiversity Fund (with thanks to Andy Bassett)

Tai Rawhiti Polytechnic’s Conservation Corps (with thanks to Andy Carrie)

The Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (with thanks to Malcolm Piper)

The Gisborne District Council (with thanks to His Worship Meng Foon, the Mayor of the Gisborne / Tai Rawhiti District Council)