The NZHS provided funding to support habitat creation within a sanctuary built to protect Napier's northern spotted skink (Oligosoma kokowai) population.
The Napier population of northern spotted skink is regionally endangered - as they are the only known population in the Hawkes Bay - and known to be genetically distinct from other populations of northern spotted skinks (i.e. populations in the Wellington region and northern South Island).
Historically, spotted skinks would have been common through parts of the upper South Island and lower North Island. However, following the arrival of humans, a combination of habitat destruction and invasive pests (e.g. rats, mice, cats etc.) has pushed them towards extinction in the North Island - where they now only survive on three small pest-free islands, and three mainland populations that are all close to extinction. The Napier population is significant as it is the northernmost population of this species, and distinct from populations further south.
In Napier, spotted skinks were once common along the foreshore living among coastal vegetation such as Muehlenbeckia, until much of this was cleared and converted into mown lawn sometime during the 1960's-1970's. The population was assumed to have gone extinct until 2007 when a small population was rediscovered living in modified habitat on the foreshore.
In 2007 a number of skinks were caught for a captive breeding programme at the Napier Aquarium. However, this was unsuccessful, and most of these animals perished. By 2019, only one old female remained.
Surveys during the early 2020's confirmed that the population had persisted in low numbers, but were at high risk of extinction without conservation intervention. At the time it was estimated there might be fewer than 25 spotted skinks remaining in the Napier population.
In 2025 Napier City Council provided funding for a dedicated sanctuary to protect the Napier population of northern spotted skinks. The funding was provided as mitigation for upgrades to some stormwater infrastructure which would impact skink habitat on the foreshore.
The Sanctuary was built in late 2025 and has a footprint of 676 square metres. The fence is two metres tall with a metal cap to prevent pests like cats from jumping over or climbing in. It was also constructed using a fine mesh which prevents baby mice from getting in (as mice are known to be significant lizard predators). It's thought that the sanctuary may eventually have capacity to support up to 300 spotted skinks. Ongoing surveillance will ensure that the sanctuary remains pest-free.
As the sanctuary was built on the mown foreshore reserve (for logistical reasons), habitat for spotted skinks needed to be created within the sanctuary (such as rock piles, logs, plants to provide food and shelter, and driftwood). Funding for this came via donations from several local schools and community groups (including the NZHS).
On 18th April 2026 the first four northern spotted skinks (two males and two females) were released into the sanctuary following a small ceremony. Additional spotted skinks will be relocated from the foreshore in the near future to provide important genetic diversity for the population.
