Be part of the new generation of conservationists using innovation and ingenuity to defend Aotearoa's ecosystems and bring our skies, forests, rivers and oceans back to life.
We believe in a future where Aotearoa's natural heritage thrives to be enjoyed by generations to come.
New Zealand stands apart in the world - an isolated cradle of life where evolution wrote its own story. More than 80 percent of our native species exist nowhere else on Earth. From the haunting call of the kōkako to the gliding kākā and the ancient tuatara, these taonga connect us to both the past and the future. Yet today, they teeter on the edge of loss. Around 63 percent of our ecosystems are threatened, and nearly 4,000 native species are at risk of extinction.
Our environment sustains not only wildlife but our wellbeing, economy, and culture. Forests purify our air, wetlands absorb floods, soils grow our kai, and the natural beauty of Aotearoa attracts millions who help sustain our livelihoods. The value of these ecosystem services is estimated at over $16 billion New Zealand dollars each year - but their true worth lies beyond numbers, in the mana of our whenua and the stories that tie us to it.
In Te Ao Māori, nature and people are one. To harm the environment is to harm ourselves; to restore it is to restore balance. Conservation is therefore not an optional act of goodwill - it is a responsibility, a duty of kaitiakitanga, and an investment in the living systems that make life in Aotearoa possible.
CESA exists to bridge the worlds of conservation and engineering - two disciplines that, when brought together, can create real, lasting impact. We design, test, and deploy technology that supports the protection and restoration of ecosystems: smart traps that detect invasive pests, drones that map habitats, sensors that monitor wildlife, and prototypes that bring cutting-edge tools into the hands of conservationists.
We also build partnerships that make these innovations possible. Our members include engineers, ecologists, iwi and hapū representatives, scientists, students, and volunteers who share a single purpose: to use human ingenuity in service of the living world. Through workshops, field projects, hackathons, and collaborative R&D, we turn ideas into solutions that strengthen conservation outcomes across the motu.
CESA is a nationwide charitable incorporated society made up of people who care deeply about both the natural world and the technology that shapes it. Our core team includes conservation officers, engineers, designers, researchers, and community leaders - but our strength lies in our network. We work hand-in-hand with local trusts, iwi and hapū groups, the Department of Conservation, councils, universities, and industry partners to co-create solutions that are technically sound and culturally grounded.
We welcome anyone who wants to make a difference - whether you are a student learning your craft, an engineer seeking purpose, a conservationist looking for tools, or a donor wanting impact.
A sample of what our crews and collaborators are building.
Ongoing: Motu Kaikōura Island
Motu Kaikōura, a rugged island sanctuary in the Hauraki Gulf, faces one final challenge - the persistent kiore (Pacific rat). CESA is working with the Motu Kaikōura Trust to design low-impact pest control technology to help the island achieve true predator-free status.
Remote Water Quality Monitor System
CESA developed a remote waterway monitoring tool that detects pollution from space. The system identifies nitrate and turbidity hotspots nationwide.
Ongoing: Predator Free 2050 - Mobile Platform for Detection of Predators in the Wild
Partnering with Predator Free 2050, CESA is designing a self-deploying network of autonomous sensors and rovers to detect invasive predators in real time across remote terrain.
Pahurehure Inlet
Pahurehure Inlet is a vital haven for native and migratory shorebirds within Auckland's Manukau Harbour. CESA's flagship restoration project brings together ecology, community, and engineering to restore its habitats and protect threatened species such as the White Heron and Black Stilt.
Join a team that's reshaping how conservation is done in Aotearoa. As a volunteer, you might help design new field technology, build and test prototypes, collect data in the bush, or support local restoration projects using tools we've developed. You'll gain real experience, meet like-minded innovators, and help create solutions that protect our native species for generations to come.
Your contribution funds the creation of predator control devices, next generation monitoring technology, and other field tools that help scientists protect Aotearoa's biodiversity. It also supports landscape projects, internships, and workshops that turn new ideas into working solutions. Every contribution helps move innovation out of the lab and into the wild, where it matters most.
Donations over NZD $5.00 qualifies for NZ Tax credit. Please see: https://www.ird.govt.nz/income-tax/income-tax-for-individuals/individual-tax-credits/donation-tax-credits
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