New Zealand built a 676-sq-metre pest-proof home for rare skinks; four released in 2026

Northern spotted skink (Oligosoma kokowai) in Napier. Image credit: Nick Harker/ New Zealand Herpetological Society New Zealand has created a 676-square-metre pest-proof sanctuary in Napier for the northern spotted skink, a rare native reptile whose Hawke’s Bay population is considered critically endangered. The purpose-built enclosure was completed in late 2025, and on 18 April 2026, four skinks were released into their new home. The move is intended to protect the remaining population while creating a safer place where the species can survive and potentially breed. The sanctuary also forms part of a wider effort to protect the skinks as major stormwater improvements are carried out nearby. The New Zealand Herpetological Society reported these details.How the new 676-square-metre sanctuary protects the skinksThe sanctuary was built on a foreshore reserve that had previously been mown grass, so its habitat had to be created rather than simply protected. The New Zealand Herpetological Society says the site now includes deep rock piles, large logs, driftwood and plants that can provide food and shelter.Napier City Council describes the enclosure as a 26-metre by 26-metre space on Mar...