What's On at Zealandia

The 8.6km fence surrounding the sanctuary was a world first and prevents all kinds of mammalian predators from entering the sanctuary, providing safety for rare and endangered native species. But how did it come to be? And how can you support the protection it provides?

Over the next few months, you may see fewer manu/birds around or some looking a bit worse for wear. This is because many will be going through their post-breeding moult, which is when they shed and regrow new feathers in advance of winter.

Over the last two years, we’ve been working with David Spencer, Managing Director of Tend Trees Ltd, to veteranise pine trees in the valley.

Next time you pop up to Rātā for a coffee or a snack, you can eat easy knowing that as well as your money going back into our conservation mahi/work, the team at Rātā Café have also been working on initiatives to reduce food waste.

We’re excited to introduce private Mandarin-speaking Zealandia by Day tours! Available on request for 1 to 12 guests, these tours provide a deeper, more personal connection to the sanctuary—all in Mandarin.  

After moving to Kāpiti, wildlife photographer Holly Henderson has filled her garden with native plants and an ever-evolving lizard garden, named Mokomoko Manor, taking over her sunny backyard. We asked Holly to tell us a bit more about how she created her lizard garden and what advice she’d give to others wanting to do the same.

You might have noticed that the Raingauge Track had been closed over the last few months. This is because a pair of kārearea are nesting near the track and actively guarding the area against both human and avian intruders. Having a top predator like the kārearea around speaks to the success of Wellington’s restoration efforts; without increases in other native manu/birds like kererū, kārearea wouldn’t be here. 

At this time of year fledgling birds are everywhere: trailing after their parents begging for food, copying the behaviour of adults, and generally figuring out how to make their way in the big wide world.

With this current season’s wasp nests starting to be discovered in Zealandia, it feels timely to do a closer dive into one of the ultimate bees in our bonnet: wasps. While the impact of mammalian predators is well known throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, there are also invasive plants, fish, and insects which throw out the balance of our local ecosystems. But there are steps you can take to assist.

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