Sponsor a Pekapeka Patrol

Pekapeka Patrol sponsorship is designed for organisations seeking to create meaningful environmental impact through conservation, education, and community participation. Whether your goals include supporting biodiversity, advancing sustainability initiatives, engaging teams in purpose-led experiences, or contributing to long-term ecological outcomes, sponsorship provides a tangible way to help expand bat monitoring, generate valuable conservation insights, and strengthen connections between communities and nature across Aotearoa.

The importance of pekapeka in New Zealand

New Zealand’s long-tailed and short-tailed bats (pekapeka) are our only native land mammals and are found nowhere else in the world. Recognised as taonga species, they have been part of Aotearoa’s ecosystems for millions of years, yet today they face a very real risk of decline and extinction. In mātauranga Māori, pekapeka hold cultural significance and are connected to ideas of guardianship and the natural world, making their protection an important act of kaitiakitanga. Ecologically, bats play a vital role by helping regulate insect populations and acting as indicators of ecosystem health. When bat populations thrive, it signals healthy, functioning environments. Despite their importance, pekapeka remain among our least understood native species and conservation efforts continue to face significant resource and data gaps. Protecting bats means protecting the health, resilience, and future of Aotearoa’s ecosystems.

Did you know?

Up to 9%
per year


of bat populations are declining in areas without active predator control, leading to a loss that is compounding.
 

12 known

subpopulations

of the lesser short-tailed bat remain across Aotearoa, spread across 3 subspecies that are scattered, isolated, and many too small to be self-sustaining without active management.

50 years

remain


This is the estimated time for local bat populations to disappear completely
without action.

Why sponsorship matters

Aotearoa’s bats are rare, unique, and essential to healthy ecosystems, yet they remain among our least understood native species. Through the National Bat Survey and Pekapeka Patrol initiatives, The Bat Co. Lab brings together ecologists, schools, and communities to expand knowledge of bat populations and increase participation in conservation across New Zealand. Sponsorship makes this work possible, helping transform curiosity into action and creating lasting outcomes for biodiversity and future generations.

What your sponsorship funds

Your sponsorship directly supports the tools and resources needed to deliver conservation at scale, including bat detectors, survey kits, acoustic data processing, and educational materials. These contributions help communities participate in monitoring, generate accessible ecological insights, and strengthen conservation efforts where they are needed most.

Sponsoring a Pekapeka Patrol

  • Bring bat conservation into schools and inspire the next generation of environmental guardians. Community Classroom gives students hands-on experience with science, nature, and real-world conservation while building stronger connections to local biodiversity.

  • Help new communities take their first step into bat conservation. Training Wings lowers barriers to participation, providing an accessible starting point for building local capability and creating future conservation impact.

  • Enable large-scale community monitoring and generate meaningful conservation insights. Night Shift supports deeper survey coverage and stronger data collection, helping build a clearer picture of bat populations across Aotearoa.

What sponsors receive

Sponsors receive meaningful brand exposure alongside measurable conservation impact. By partnering with The Bat Co. Lab, sponsors are recognised across campaign communications, website features and promotional content, with opportunities to showcase their support through sponsor badges, social media and EDM mentions. Sponsors also receive reporting that demonstrates the outcomes of their contribution, including project insights and national survey impact metrics. Most importantly, sponsorship directly enables real-world conservation, helping fund bat monitoring, education and community participation whilst connecting your organisation to a nationally significant environmental initiative.

  • Partnering with The Bat Co. Lab offers organisations a unique chance to make a visible and meaningful impact to bat conservation, whilst aligning with a highly trusted, innovative environmental initiative. Sponsors gain brand recognition through survey packs, educational materials and communications that reach communities across Aotearoa.

  • By supporting biodiversity, sponsors help safeguard the future of Aotearoa’s native bats and the unique ecosystems they inhabit. Your contribution enables vital research, monitoring, and conservation efforts, ensuring these extraordinary species continue to thrive and play their essential role in New Zealand’s natural world.

  • By supporting education, sponsors empower current and future conservationists, young explorers and bat enthusiasts. Your involvement creates hands-on learning experiences, citizen science opportunities, and meaningful connections to nature, inspiring action to protect Aotearoa’s unique wildlife.

A peek at our merch pack!

Every Pekapeka Patrol participant receives a merch pack to celebrate their contribution and help them feel part of New Zealand’s growing bat conservation community.

Help shape the future of bat conservation

To learn more about how to become a sponsor and receive our sponsorship pack, fill out the form below.