The New Zealand Defence Force manages an area of approx 15,000ha in the project area as the Takapō/Tekapo Military Training Area. As a good steward of Crown land the NZDF maintains the natural values including landscape, water and biodiversity. Pest animals and plants have been controlled since 1996 which has seen the re-establishment of native tussock grasslands. The training area also contains feeding and breeding areas for rare and endangered birds, six species of reptiles, diverse native fish communities, and rare and endangered invertebrate populations.
