A CAN IN THE HAND IS WORTH $2 IN THE BUSH: Exclusive Collab in Support of Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari
A conservation organization, a brewery, and a hop supplier walk into the bush. No, this isn't the setup to a bad joke. It's the beginning of a pretty special collaboration bringing together beer, biodiversity, and a landscape worth protecting.
At Yakima Chief Hops, some of the most meaningful work we do happens when we can connect with partners around a shared purpose. That's what brought us together with Garage Project, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, and a group of like-minded industry partners for Bush Bash, a limited-edition beer created to support the sanctuary's ongoing conservation work.
As part of YCH's annual Pints with Purpose effort, this collaboration brings our brewing and agricultural partners in New Zealand and Australia together around an issue that extends well beyond beer: protecting the ecosystems, native wildlife, and landscapes that makes these places special.
With $2 from every can of Bush Bash sold going directly to Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, a beer becomes a simple way for people to take part in something much bigger.
The beer, Bush Bash, has been created to support the sanctuary's work protecting and restoring 3,400 hectares of ancient native forest and more than 730 native species that reside within it.
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari Chief Executive, Helen Hughes, says the collaboration demonstrates the power of business and communities coming together behind a shared purpose.
"We're incredibly grateful to Garage Project, Yakima Chief Hops and the wider group of partners who have come together to support Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari. What makes this collaboration so special is that it reflects a shared belief that nature matters and that protecting it is a responsibility we all share."
"Every day, we work to protect and care for the world's largest fenced eco-sanctuary and to have others recognize the importance of the mahi and get behind it is both humbling and deeply encouraging. We're particularly moved that this support comes not only from here in New Zealand, but also from people and businesses halfway across the globe."
"Just as importantly, this initiative gives the wider public an opportunity to get behind conservation in a tangible way. Every can sold and every pint poured helps support our critical work. While the benefits are felt here on the maunga, the impact reaches much further through the sanctuary's contribution to national species recovery programs, conservation research, and the protection of some of Aotearoa's most treasured wildlife. It shows what's possible when businesses, communities and individuals unite behind a shared purpose," she says.
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is a safe haven for some of New Zealand's most unique and endangered wildlife such as 3,000 kiwi, two families of takahē and the only mainland population of kākāpō. Since kiwi were first reintroduced to Maungatautari in 2005, the sanctuary has become of the country's most important strongholds for Northern Island brown kiwi. Today, the population plays a vital role in supporting kiwi recovery efforts nationwide, helping establish new populations across the country.
"Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is one of New Zealand's greatest conservation success stories, at a time when those feel rare," says Pete Gillespie, Garage Project's founder. "At GP, we believe not only that beer can taste good, but that it can also be used as a force for good. Maungatautari's work is helping some of our most endangered wildlife not only survive, but thrive. That's something everyone can get behind – and our wonderful partners in this project already have! You can too. What could be better than drinking a great tasting beer? The answer is knowing that at the same time you're supporting an incredible conservation effort!
The beer, Bush Bash, is a 6% bright IPA made by Garage Project at their brewery in Wellington's Aro Valley. Yakima Chief Hops donated premium hops from their hop farms in Washington, USA, and other partners followed suit – Froth Technologies donated yeast, Gladfield Malt donated Canterbury-grown grain, and Recorp NZ donated the cans to put it all in.
The name 'Bush Bash' honors Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari's ranger team, whose tireless round-the-clock work protect the 3,400 hectares of ancient native forest. From maintaining the sanctuary's 47-kilometre predator-proof fence to responding to pest detections and caring fundamental to the sanctuary's success.
For YCH, supporting this work is part of a broader belief that conservation and agriculture are deeply connected. As a hop supplier rooted in agriculture, we depend on healthy soils, clean water, biodiversity, and functioning ecosystems and so do the communities and wildlife around us.
Levi Wyatt, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Yakima Chief Hops, says, "At its core, conservation is about allowing ecosystems to remain healthy and resilient to sustain life over time. That idea is deeply connected to how we think about our role in agriculture at Yakima Chief Hops. We're not separate from the natural systems we rely on, we're part of them. Healthy soils, clean water, biodiversity, and functioning ecosystems are fundamental to the long-term health of our farms and communities around them."
"That perspective is what connects us to the work of Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari. Their efforts to restore/protect biodiversity and native wildlife are rooted in the same fundamental idea: that healthy ecosystems are worth protecting, and that we have a responsibility to be thoughtful stewards of the natural world we depend on. New Zealand's native ecosystems are unique and internationally significant, and while Maungatautari and our hop farms are worlds apart, the principles that connect them are remarkably similar."
"For us, this collaboration is about connecting those dots between conservation and agriculture, between New Zealand and the Pacific Northwest, and between the beer in our hands and the landscapes that make it possible. Bringing these stories together creates an opportunity to build awareness around conservation and remind people that protecting the natural world is something we all have a role in."
That's the spirit behind our Pints with Purpose collaborations, YCH's annual effort to connect with brewing and industry partners across the globe around meaningful conservation efforts. 2026 marks the second year running we have had the opportunity to engage with our friends in the Australasia region. While the projects may look different from place to place, the goal is fairly consistent: use the connections and reach of the brewing industry to support amazing people and places we all depend on.
Bush Bash is one expression of that effort. It's a great beer, but more importantly, it's a tangible way to support the people working every day to protect one of the most important conservation landscapes in New Zealand. We are very proud to support this in a small way.
General Information
Additional donations to support Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari can be made here.
The artwork for the Bush Bash beer label is by Toby Morris.
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is a conservation project protecting and restoring 3,400 hectares of ancient native forest in the heart of New Zealand's Waikato region. Home to more than 730 native species, including kiwi, takahē and kākāpō, the sanctuary is the world's largest fenced eco-sanctuary. Its work combines predator control, habitat restoration, species recovery, conservation research, and community engagement to create a safe haven where native wildlife can thrive. Through this work, Maungatautari is not only protecting an important piece of Aotearoa's natural heritage, but also contributing to conservation and species recovery efforts across New Zealand.
Garage Project is an independent craft brewery based in Wellington, New Zealand. Our aim is to create unique and beautiful beers, to push boundaries and reinterpret styles, and to challenge the notions of what beer can be. To date, the brewery has created over 900 different beers and counting. We're here to try something new, just like you.