Lyttelton Port Company CEO Graeme Sumner (right) and BPCT Chair Simon Shelton (left) reveal a new sign at the Port Saddle Covenant Event. Photo/LPC
Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) and the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust (BPCT) has proudly announced the establishment of a perpetual conservation covenant on the 17-hectare Port Saddle site. The covenant marks a significant milestone toward the enduring protection and enhancement of biodiversity in the Port Hills.
Owned by LPC, Port Saddle is situated on the doorstep of the Lyttelton community and forms part of the Port Hills, a popular recreational area used by walkers and mountain bikers. The site has been actively restored since 2017 in partnership with BPCT, with local schools, volunteers, community groups and corporates all actively engaged in the restoration journey.
The covenant aligns with LPC’s Biodiversity Strategy 2025-2030 and the company’s vision to be “New Zealand’s most sustainable and innovative maritime gateway.” LPC CEO Graeme Sumner said the covenant secures the Port Saddle for the future.
View of Port Saddle looking up to the top of the Port Hills. Photo/LPC
“Covenanting this land reflects our commitment to protecting biodiversity and creating a legacy that benefits both the environment and our community for generations to come” said Graeme Sumner.
The Port Saddle lies between Christchurch City Council’s Urumau Reserve and Department of Conservation land, creating an ecological corridor.
Simon Shelton, Chair of the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust, says their vision is that by 2050, native biodiversity is thriving across Banks Peninsula, including the Port Hills.
Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust Chair Simon Shelton. Photo/LPC
“To see examples like this, a covenanted piece of land of conservation sitting above an operational port which works on a commercial basis… is the sort of partnership we like to work with”, said Simon Shelton.
Community-led restoration
Restoration efforts have delivered measurable ecological gains. There have been increased sightings of native birdlife, such as kererū (wood pigeon), korimako (bellbird), and the return of tūī, which had been absent from the area for decades.
5000 native trees have been planted with annual planting numbers ranging from 300 to 700. Strong volunteer involvement has also been achieved, with 295 volunteers and 228 Enviroschools students contributing around 4,500 hours to planting, weeding, and maintenance.
A predator control programme operates with 40 active traps targeting possums, mustelids, and rodents, with 56 pests removed so far this year.
View of Port Saddle overlooking Lyttelton township. Photo/LPC
Leadership and partnership
The Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust is a non-profit organisation approved by the Minister of Conservation to enter into covenants with landowners.
The Trust promotes indigenous biodiversity and sustainable land management across Banks Peninsula, managing more than 100 covenants, including Lyttelton Port Company’s Gollans Bay site and the Port Saddle.
Lyttelton Port Company is the principal sponsor of the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust.