Te Kōhanga (The Nest)
Building Details
| Name of Building: | Te Kōhanga (The Nest) |
| Location: | 15 Pingau Street, Paekākāriki, Kapiti Coast |
| Date Plaque Unveiled: | 23 April 2026 |
| Current Owners: | Private ownership |
| Contact Details: | |
| Plaque Sponsor: | Paekākāriki Station Museum |
Plaque Text
Captain Ernest Valentine Sanderson (1866-1945) founder of the NZ Native Bird Protection Society lived here from 1930 until his death. A dedicated environmentalist, he was instrumental in establishing Kāpiti Island as a nature reserve.
Related Links
- Heritage NZ Inventory - Link:
- District Council Heritage - Link:
Brief Historical Information:
The Sanderson House plaque recognises not only a special building, but its history within a wider social and environmental context. The house was built on sand dunes, overlooking Kapiti Island, by an extraordinary individual. His planting of native trees demonstrated the ability to restore a coastal site to a pre destructive state.
He had the vision of a fully restored Kapiti Island and of the ability and power of community efforts to restore Aotearoa/New Zealand habitats (by establishing the NZ Forest & Bird Society).
This blue plaque recognises the value of individual and community effort to achieve lasting environmental change, initiated from this modest but quality built small house.
Restoration and Current Owner Story
To be supplied:
Photos by Bob Zuur.
Photo Gallery
Click on any image to see a larger copy
