The area slopes slightly to allow the Maraetotara stream, which runs around the structure, to be piped to run through the aviary, providing nourishing pure water to the birds, before running back into the stream.
Yesterday Cape Sanctuary co-founder Andy Lowe revealed the beginnings of the aviary - the third breeding facility for these birds in New Zealand - to Kotahi CEO David Ross.
Mr Lowe said, "the main thing is without intervention, [the birds] would become extinct, our kids and grandkids would never see them".
"It's criminal that in our lifetime, we've allowed this to happen."
Developing long-standing partnerships to restore native bird life to Hawke's Bay was part of the Cape Sanctuary philosophy. Kotahi's partnership would enable the running of the aviary, and support a research project to understand how these birds could be re-established into the wild.
After discussing the project since March, Mr Ross was impressed with his first visit to the site.
The project had "just seemed to fit with what our business is about, the fact we want to do something sustainable for New Zealand's natural wildlife".
After seeing the passion of the volunteers and Mr Lowe, Mr Ross said "we knew we were with the right people".
Kotahi was confident the aviary would be able to make a difference, he said.
"If we don't do something about this now, future generations won't see a shore bird",.
Around a dozen volunteers have been working at the site for several months, volunteer and project manager Paul Dippie said, to lay concrete foundations, insert bolts, and install rat exclusion barriers.
The aviary had been largely modelled on Canterbury's Peacock Springs breeding facility as it was a "proven facility".
Mr Dippie said they had received input from the manager there on what she would do differently, including suggestions for the purpose-built brooding house, perched on the hill nearby.
The building will contain areas for incubation, brooding, and food preparation, as well as housing the infrastructure needed to charge the area with solar power.
Mr Lowe said when the programme began, there would be a couple of volunteers rostered at the site every day.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) have also supported the project.
DOC operations director Reg Kemper said having a business like Kotahi working with Cape Sanctuary, and DOC to protect the natural environment was "very important if we are going to achieve increased levels of protection for New Zealand's rare and endangered species".
"This is a fantastic initiative and another example of the great conservation going on in the Hawke's Bay," he said.
