Robin Hight
GUARDIAN OF
THE SANCTUARY
GET A
GRIP
SHOPPING
WINTER
COURSE
COURSE
UPDATE
UPDATE
With Steve Jessup
Winter 2026
Winter 2026
2 WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY
CONTENTS
Page 04
Page 06
Page 08
Page 15
Page 16
Page 18
Page 20
Page 22
WELCOME
GET A GRIP - WITH STEVE JESSUP
ROBIN HIGHT - GUARDIAN OF THE SANCTUARY
KIWI ART TRAIL AT WAIRAKEI
THE RESIDENCES
THE WRITTEN WORD
WINTER WARMERS
WINTER SHOPPING
WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY 3
WELCOME
4 WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY
As we close out another quarter at
Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary, I’d like to re
flect not only on the activity around the
facility, but also on what continues to
make this place so special. Wairakei Golf
+ Sanctuary is far more than a course
or clubhouse—it is a place built around
shared experiences, friendships, com
petition, and a genuine passion for the
game on an amazing golf course.
Over recent months, it has been incred
ibly pleasing to see strong visitor partic
ipation with these moments all contrib
uting to a vibrant culture we continue to
build together at Wairakei Golf + Sanctu
ary. Many groups coming to play return
on numerous occasions throughout the
year and may this continue.
We would like to acknowledge and
thank Club Connections for the incred
ible support they have provided to our
operation over the past four years. Their
commitment to managing and growing
our social media presence has helped
us significantly improve our marketing
reach and engagement with our golfers.
The team at Club Connections have
consistently brought fresh ideas, shared
stories, professionalism, and genuine
passion to everything they do. Their con
tribution has been an important part of
bringing first time and returning golfers
to Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary, we greatly
value the relationship we have built to
gether over the years.
Our grounds staff have worked tire
lessly to present the course in excellent
condition daily, balancing day-to-day
presentation with important long-term
maintenance programs that ensure the
sustainability and quality of the course
well into the future. Equally, our pro shop
staff, hospitality, administration, and
carties continue to play an important
role in creating a welcoming and enjoy
able environment for all guests.
As we move into the next quarter, we
look forward to our Winter Special and
continued improvements to the course.
Don’t miss out on our Winter Special,
designed for enthusiasts looking to ex
perience our special course during the
quieter season. This limited-time offer
is available until August 16th, providing
the perfect opportunity to explore our
renowned golf course at an attractive
rate.
On behalf of Gary, staff, thank you for
your ongoing support and contribution
to Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary. We are
proud of what we continue to achieve
here and look forward to moving into
Spring.
What’s Going On
Sinclair and his team have commenced
construction of new water features on
the 4th and 5th golf holes, marking an
other exciting stage in the ongoing en
hancement of the course. These addi
tions are expected to not only elevate
the visual appeal of the holes but also
introduce new strategic elements that
golfers of all skill levels will appreciate
and enjoy.
The careful design and integration of
these features will further complement
WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY 5
the natural landscape and reinforce the
course’s reputation for quality and pre
sentation. There is no doubt this work
will add even greater beauty, character,
and challenge to what is already regard
ed as an outstanding golf course and a
pleasure to play.
Maintenance and Renovation Update
Although this is some way off, one of our
annual general maintenance periods on
the course will commence September
7th to September 11th meaning we will
be closed for the week. Also, at this op
portune time we can carry out mainte
nance in and around our facilities, mean
ing the clubhouse will be closed for the
same period. We anticipate a swift recov
ery and look forward to welcoming you
back to enjoy our course if the weather
cooperates.
Staff Changes
After ten years as a valued member of our
Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary team, Grace
Senior is moving on to pursue a new op
portunity. Grace completed her trainee
ship here under Head Professional Steve
Jessup. Coaching is Grace’s passion and
this will be her next exciting venture.
Throughout her time with us, Grace has
been a familiar and friendly face around
the clubhouse, and her contribution to
the club will be greatly missed.
We thank Grace for her years of service
and wish her every success and happi
ness in this exciting new chapter.
As one door closes, another opens, and
we are delighted to welcome Marion to
the Pro Shop team. If you’re visiting us
soon, please take a moment to introduce
yourself and make Marion feel at home.
Winter Operating Hours
During the winter period, our operating
hours are from Wednesday to Sunday.
We will resume seven-day operations
starting September 16th, ensuring you
have ample opportunity to schedule a
visit.
As we look ahead to the coming months,
there is plenty to be excited about both
on and off the course. The subdivision
is starting to ramp up with a new look
entranceway into the development, our
corporate golf days are all in prepara
tion mode and additional course work
will continue over the next few months.
We remain committed to delivering an
exceptional experience for all members
and guests.
Warm Regards
Warren Collett
Warren Collett CCM
General Manager Operations
The middle of winter is probably a great
time to highlight the importance of hav
ing good conditioned grips. A nice fresh
grip has a soft, almost tacky texture en
abling maximum connection/adhesive
ness to the club. Obviously in the colder,
sometimes wetter months, the benefit
of this is magnified. An old shiny grip full
of oil from your hands over hundreds of
shots with a hard feel to it can prove to
be a slippery commodity to deal with.
Beyond the advantage of a grip that
actually wants to stay in your hands in
those inclement conditions it can have a
significant bearing on your swing char
acteristics in “normal” conditions.
One facet of the grip I stress in my lessons
is grip pressure. (How hard/tight you are
holding onto the club.) I recommend a
grip pressure of around 2-3 out of 10, for
most people this is an awful lot lighter
than they would normally hold the club.
Quite simply if your grips are firm and
shiny it makes it next to impossible to ap
ply the desired level of pressure (or lack
thereof) and therefore forces you to hold
the club too tight while trying to prevent
it from flying out of your hands. This has
an adverse effect on your ability to allow
the club to work for you in the swing.
Whether it’s battling cold, damp condi
tions or simply allowing yourself the op
portunity to swing the club to your full
potential, a grip that is in good ‘nick’ will
go a long way to achieving this.
GET A GRIP
With Steve Jessup
6 WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY
$195 NZ AFFILIATED 18 HOLE GREEN FEE
Offer Available 3/6/2026 - 16/8/2026 | Bookings Essential
Offer Available 3/6/2026 - 16/8/2026 | Bookings Essential
WINTER SPECIAL!
WINTER SPECIAL!
$235 including cart share
$235 including cart share
BOOK NOW!
BOOK NOW!
WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY 7
ROBIN HIGHT
Guardian of the Sanctuary
8 WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY
WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY 9
Behind the predator-proof fences and
towering pines of Wairakei Golf + Sanc
tuary, Robin Hight quietly goes about
protecting one of New Zealand’s most
unique environments. From raising en
dangered takahē chicks to maintaining
the sanctuary that gives Wairakei its soul,
Hight’s work ensures golf and conser
vation continue to thrive side by side in
Taupō.
At a place like Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary,
the wildlife is not an afterthought to the
golf experience; it is an integral part of
the property’s character.
The sanctuary transforms the course
from a well-conditioned, brilliant cham
pionship layout into something entirely
unique within New Zealand golf.
Protecting endangered species, preserv
ing native bushland and maintaining a
predator-free environment give the club
a deeper purpose beyond the sport.
Players often reminisce about their expe
rience beneath the pines, encountering
some of New Zealand’s native species as
much as the score they signed for after
18 holes. Which is why people like Robin
Hight are so important in preserving the
soul of Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary.
Without the constant care, monitoring,
and conservation work quietly happen
ing behind the scenes each day, Wairakei
Golf + Sanctuary wouldn’t have the char
acter that makes it unlike anywhere else
in the world.
It does feel mythical.
Takahē wander near fairways, deer
emerge from the shrub, and kiwi quietly
live within the dense bushland beyond
the greens.
For Hight, on the other hand, it is simply
another day at work.
Hight is the sanctuary ranger tasked with
protecting one of New Zealand’s most
unique golfing environments, a pred
ator-proof wildlife sanctuary wrapped
around a championship golf course in
the heart of Taupō.
It is a role that feels tailor-made for the
quietly spoken local, whose life has long
revolved around animals, conservation
and the outdoors.
“I’ve been associated with farming and
animals all my life,” Hight says.
“I’ve always loved looking after birds.
When I was in the UK, we spent a lot of
time rearing pheasants and working with
wildlife, and growing up on the land, it all
came pretty naturally to me.
“It’s a genuine passion. Even at home in
Taupō, I’ve got bird feeders set up for the
Tūī and other native birds. I just really en
joy it,” he added.
Before arriving at Wairakei Golf + Sanc
tuary around six years ago, Hight had
farmed locally, then headed overseas
with his wife to work on English estates
in the United Kingdom. There, he cared
for pheasants, horses and the grounds of
sprawling country properties.
When the pair returned to New Zealand
just before COVID, an old friend who had
been helping look after the sanctuary’s
birds made a phone call.
10 WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY
“He rang me and said, ‘What are you
doing?’ I said, ‘I’m not doing anything,’”
Hight laughed. “He said, ‘I’ve got just the
job for you.’”
The fit was immediate.
Every day at Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary
begins with routine. Hight checks the
sanctuary fence, monitors traps, feeds
deer and ducks and keeps watch over
the native birdlife spread across the
property.
“A lot of it’s planned because I do my
rounds every day,” he said. “But there’s al
ways something happening.”
The sanctuary’s 5.5-kilometre preda
tor-proof fence is central to the opera
tion. It protects vulnerable species from
stoats, possums and other rodents while
allowing native wildlife to flourish across
the course and surrounding bushland.
Cyclone damage in recent years creat
ed uncontrollable challenges, flattening
parts of the fence line and allowing pred
ators to occasionally breach the perime
ter, but Hight says constant vigilance has
kept things under control.
“You’ve got to keep a pretty close watch
on the fence,” he said. “Predators are pret
ty quick to find any breach, so it’s just a
matter of staying on top of it.”
The species closest to Hight’s heart is the
Takahē, one of New Zealand’s rarest na
tive birds. When he arrived at Wairakei
Golf + Sanctuary, there were only two
on-site. That number has since grown
significantly through a careful breeding
and conservation programme run along
side the Department of Conservation.
“There’s only about 500 of them left in
New Zealand,” Hight said. “The biggest
WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY 11
enjoyment I get is raising the chicks.”
To help manage the endangered birds,
Hight travelled to Te Anau to learn how
to handle and monitor them, including
tracking nesting habits and managing
feeding stations designed to keep terri
torial pairs separated.
“We just let them roam pretty freely here,”
he said. “They’ve got transmitters on
them so I can track where they’re nesting
and keep an eye on them.”
While the sanctuary’s wildlife often steals
visitors’ attention, Hight believes the
wider environment is what truly makes
Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary special.
“It’s just so pristine,” he said. “There’s hard
ly a leaf out of place. It’s unique, really.”
For golfers, Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary of
fers a rare contrast. One moment, they
are navigating strategic bunkering and
slick bentgrass greens, the next, they are
stopping to watch deer prance through
the trees or native birds dart across the
fairways.
Hight sees that reaction every day.
“I like golf, and I just love coming out
here every day.
“I’ve got an electric bike, and I ride that
out.
“It’s peaceful, you meet great people, and
the golfers really appreciate the place.”
Despite the sanctuary’s success, work
continues to evolve. New water areas are
being developed, which will attract more
waterfowl, while extensive planting proj
ects continue across the property.
For Hight, however, the goal remains as
simple as protecting the wildlife and pre
serving the escape Wairakei Golf + Sanc
tuary has become.
“It’s like a big wildlife park with a golf
course in it,” he said. “Or maybe it’s a golf
course with a wildlife park around it,” he
laughs.
12 WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY
WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY 13
14 WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY
We’re excited to announce that a se
lection of stunning kiwi sculptures
from the 2026 Kiwi Art Trail will be on
display at Wairakei for a limited time!
The Kiwi Art Trail celebrates New Zea
land’s beloved national icon, bring
ing the kiwi to life through beauti
fully designed sculptures created by
talented local artists. Each piece is a
unique work of art, with the Trail also
helping raise vital funds for kiwi con
servation through an online auction.
The journey began at Millbrook
during the New Zealand Golf Open,
before continuing through wineries
in Bannockburn and along the Al
exandra–Clyde cycle trail. The Trail
concluded in May, raising more than
$135,000 for charities and kiwi con
servation efforts.
A few incredible sculptures could
still be available — don’t miss your
chance to own one of these special
pieces!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND
PURCHASE
KIWI ART TRAIL
At Wairakei
WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY 15
16 WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY
Chris Dykzeul +64 21 660 959 | chris.dykzeul@bayleys.co.nz
Matt Davis-Goff +64 22 173 6402 | matt.davisgoff@bayleys.co.nz
WESTERMAN REALTY LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REAA 2008
The Pavilion
Takes Shape
Construction of The Pavilion — the heart of The Residences community — is now underway.
Alongside it, the professional-grade tennis and pickleball courts are now formed. A private
sporting facility designed exclusively for residents and their guests, set within the gardens of the
community pavilion.
Whether a morning hit, an afternoon match, or an evening gathering on the terrace, every visit
will feel like a private club experience. From early June, hard and soft landscaping commences —
bringing the surrounding gardens to life ahead of completion.
Artist’s impression
Artist’s impression
WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY 17
Register your interest at
theresidences.co.nz
Your Invitation Awaits
Private viewings will open in the fourth quarter 2026.
To be among the first invited, register your interest today with Chris Dykzeul or Matt Davis-Goff.
Crafting Excellence:
Construction Update
Substantial progress continues at The Residences. All thirty lots are now formed, with bulk
earthworks complete — a defining milestone in the shaping of this exclusive community.
Below ground, trenching and services installation is well advanced, laying the foundations for
everyday life at The Residences.
From early June, hard and soft landscaping begins. Roading works follow in July, with internal
roadways forming the connections throughout the community.
THE WRITTEN WORD
18 WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY
Who has time to put pen to paper, address an envelope then drive it to the Post shop?
In this world of digital overload, internet, emails, texting, facetime and AI, technology
simply makes communications quicker, faster, easier.
Receiving a handwritten note is rare, the gesture leaves a lasting impression, it proves
that someone took the time to pause, reflect, and put physical effort into sharing their
thoughts.
Thanks Marck, for reminding us of the impact the written word can have.
WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY 19
20 WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY
WINTER WARMERS
from the Cafe
As the colder months settle in across
Wairakei, the café is embracing winter with
a fresh seasonal menu launching from 1st
July.
Our kitchen team has been busy creating
comforting favourites perfect for warming
up after a round on the course or relax
ing beside the fire. One of the highlights
making its return this season is our hearty
homemade chicken pie — rich, warming,
and packed with flavour.
Breakfast lovers will also be pleased to
see French toast making a comeback to
the menu. Served warm and full of winter
comfort, it’s the perfect way to start a crisp
morning at the sanctuary.
And with the cooler weather now well and
truly here, soup season is officially in full
swing. Expect delicious rotating winter
soups served with fresh bread, ideal for a
light lunch or cosy afternoon break.
We look forward to welcoming members,
guests, and visitors into the café this win
ter to enjoy the new seasonal offerings and
warm hospitality at Wairakei.