[4] The Cook Strait giant wētā is found only in New Zealand, on the islands of the North, South and Middle Trio, Stephens, Maud, Matiu/Somes and Mana.

[4] Owing to its solitary and nomadic lifestyle, the Cook Strait giant wētā's reproduction relies upon the male locating a receptive female.

This search is facilitated by the strong scent produced by the wētā's body and by its faecal pellets, and can involve the male travelling over 250 metres in a single night.

As a defence against predators the Cook Strait giant wētā will raise its spiked legs over its head and wave them up and down while making a hissing sound by rapidly rubbing together the overlapping plates on its upper body.

In addition, on Mana Island, the removal of cattle and eradication of mice has dramatically increased Cook Strait giant wētā abundance.

By using a specially designed fence to exclude mammalian predators, the sanctuary hopes to re-establish an environment similar to that which existed on New Zealand before the arrival of humans, where species such as the Cook Strait giant wētā can thrive once more.