The Conservation Minister Maggie Barry has tonight launched the Endangered Species Foundation, a new protector to focus on our rare wildlife.

The Foundation aims to create a $30 million endowment fund for front-line conservation projects.

Chairman Kerry Prendergast says there are 4,000 native species in real danger of extinction, with only 250 in conservation programmes, and the Foundation will focus on the rarest of the rare.

The launch was held in Wellington at the Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary.

The ten most endangered species are:

1. The Maui Dolphin

2. Mokohinau stag beetle

3. Canterbury knobbled weevil

4. Isoetes 

5. New Zealand Fairy Tern

6. Limestone cress

7. Chesterfield skink

8. Coastal peppercress

9. Eyelash seaweed

10. Dune swale daphne