What's On at Zealandia

“Birdsong is no longer drowned out by traffic”, Al Jazeera English reports on the inspiring recovery of native manu/birds in Wellington.

In 2019, our Bicultural Engagement Lead Ranger Terese McLeod (Taranaki Whānui) was carrying out a rubbish audit in the Kaiwharawhara stream. She noticed that a lot of the rubbish being collected consisted of plastic flowers blown off graves from the nearby cemetery. Since then, Terese has helped enable plastic reduction in cemeteries, including Mākara urupā which is now plastic-free.

The hihi breeding season is well underway with the first of the nests beginning to hatch in late November and many more following suit.

As we move into our hotter months of the year, occasionally there are kiwi pukupuku spotted during the day.

With a variety of family-friendly activities, from nature walks to yoga in the sanctuary, there’s something for everyone to enjoy

We are so fortunate to share our spaces with kākā again, but like with any new housemate, we are still learning how to do this respectfully and mindfully.

We truly appreciate your support as members throughout 2024—together, we have been able to achieve some massive conservation milestones

This is a delicate time of year for a lot of wildlife across the city and in the sanctuary. Many manu/birds are sitting on nests or looking after their fledglings. The way you behave around them can make a big difference to their family’s wellbeing.

Breeding season is upon us, and with many manu on the market for a mate, individuals (typically males) must work hard to attract or keep potential partners. Birds will exhibit courtship behaviour, which encompasses a wide range of actions.

Aotearoa is known for having a large diversity of manu/birds; however, it is also the land of the mokomoko/lizards (geckos and skinks). Although it can be difficult to tell individual species apart, skinks and geckos are quite different.