Orokonui Ecosanctuary, Nature reserve in Dunedin City, New Zealand.

Orokonui Ecosanctuary is a 307-hectare fenced wildlife reserve in a north-facing valley of regenerating native forest, 20 km north of central Dunedin. Its 9 km pest-exclusion fence, 1.9 m high with a curved steel hood and ground skirt, keeps out introduced mammals. Inside are a visitor and education centre and walking tracks.

The sanctuary's idea began in 1982 with cartoonist Burton Silver and friends, who proposed in July 1983 converting a Dunedin fertiliser factory into a giant aviary. That plan was abandoned but led to the Otago Natural History Trust in August 1983. The Orokonui proposal lapsed until 1995, when Ralph Allen revived it after Wellington's Karori sanctuary opened.

The Māori name Te Korowai o Mihiwaka means 'the cloak of Mihiwaka', and the local rūnaka, Kāti Huirapa of Puketeraki, became supporters of the Otago Natural History Trust's project. The sanctuary's species were brought back deliberately: four South Island kākā arrived in July 2007, fifteen tuatara came from the University of Otago in March 2009, and 34 South Island saddleback followed a month later.

The site is typically accessible from Thursday to Monday, with morning hours offering better chances to spot wildlife. Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for hilly, natural paths that wind through the forest environment.

The site operates under a 1000-year conservation plan, one of the longest-term environmental projects in New Zealand and an example of multigenerational thinking. This century-spanning vision sets it apart as a rare model of patience and persistence in modern conservation work.