Off the beaten track in Northland, Marlborough and North Canterbury

Ecologists Chris Richmond and Vicky Froude surrounded by new growth in the Old Russell Sanctuary (PHOTO: Kennedy Warne)

Rat trap in a puriri tree (PHOTO: Kennedy Warne)

Buttress roots of pukatea in Old Russell Sanctuary (PHOTO: Kennedy Warne)

Orange Pore fungus in Old Russell Sanctuary (PHOTO: Kennedy Warne)

Map - plans to protect the peninsulas around Russell (PHOTO: Kennedy Warne)

Chris Richmond at one entrance to the sanctuary (PHOTO: Kennedy Warne)

Red algae is cast ashore in prodigious quantities at Marfells Beach (PHOTO: Kennedy Warne)

Salt marsh, Kapara Te Hau, Lake Grassmere (PHOTO: Kennedy Warne)

Salt marsh, Kapara Te Hau, Lake Grassmere (PHOTO: Kennedy Warne)

Seal on the coast south of Kaikoura (PHOTO: Kennedy Warne)

Seal on the coast south of Kaikoura (PHOTO: Kennedy Warne)

Manuka Bay, near Port Robinson (PHOTO: Kennedy Warne)

Lighthouse beacon at Port Robinson (PHOTO: Kennedy Warne)

Siltstone pillars at Cathedral Gully (PHOTO: Kennedy Warne)

Siltstone pillars at Cathedral Gully (PHOTO: Kennedy Warne)