Welcome to The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary is a haven for all animals, with a focus on three main areas of work:

Native Birds

We rehabilitate and release native New Zealand birds back into the wild.

Rescue Animals

The Sanctuary is a permanent home and refuge for abandoned, abused, and forgotten animals.

Battery Hens

We rehabilitate and rehome ex-battery hens throughout the Auckland region.

View this video below to learn about what we do:

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The Sanctuary is an animal refuge run by Shawn Bishop and Michael Dixon in Matakana, New Zealand. We provide a safe haven for abused and neglected animals, and care for injured or orphaned native birds. A charitable trust has been established for this purpose.
The Sanctuary also offers a unique bed and breakfast which is ideal for animal and nature lovers and helps to raise funds for the animals.