This is the first time a New Zealand conservation project is trading biodiversity credits on an international trading platform. This provides direct access to global audiences, connecting the world to the incredible biodiversity outcomes for which New Zealand is renowned.

Ekos CEO Sean Weaver says this is a milestone moment, not only for Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, but also for the future of conservation funding in New Zealand.  

"The need for conservation funding in New Zealand far outweighs the current resources available through traditional grants and philanthropic support. Biodiversity credits from the Ekos BioCredita programme offer a new pathway to integrate biodiversity conservation into the heart of the economy here and around the world,” he says.

“These biodiversity credits don’t commodify nature. Instead, they represent the human resource and technology cost to look after it. Buyers are purchasing measured, reported and verified biodiversity conservation outputs in a performance-based system."

Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari CEO Helen Hughes says being the first in New Zealand to connect international market platforms with the world-class biodiversity outcomes achieved by her team is in keeping with the innovative mindset that the sanctuary was founded on.

“The Sanctuary is the largest of its kind in the world, built just over 20 years ago with ambitious goals and innovative thinking.  Today, our 1,000-year plan and our scale provide the opportunity to test new ways of doing things, including finding new revenue streams to enable the sanctuary to continue to deliver exceptional biodiversity outcomes,” she says.

Weaver says that linking biodiversity credits to international companies is a positive step for New Zealand.

“Being able to trade on the international trading platform, ClimateTrade, opens the door to foreign exchange to help fund biodiversity conservation in a global biodiversity hotspot. This opportunity is made possible by our rigorous standard, third-party verification protocols, and blockchain registry system for biodiversity credit issuance and tracking.”

“This allows us to tap into a well-established global market where conservation-linked ESG targets and reporting are becoming standard practice. While biodiversity credits are still a relatively new concept here, the BioCredita programme enables New Zealand to align with international frameworks and attract investment from companies already familiar with these mechanisms”, he says.

Hughes adds that the goal is to connect with domestic and international markets that align with Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari’s ethos and value environmental sustainability, social responsibility, productive partnerships and meaningful community engagement.

Outcomes she says the sanctuary delivers on every day through its operations.

“By connecting to impact investors and values-based buyers—both here and abroad—we’re not just funding conservation, we’re shaping a future where nature and communities thrive together. This is not just a transaction; it’s a shared commitment to delivering biodiversity outcomes at a global scale."