This summer, we're encouraging you to explore further into the sanctuary and take notice of things you may not normally see, hear or feel.

Whether you’ve visited 100 times or never, there’s always something new to notice if you slow down and take it all in.
 

Pīpīwharauroa are one of our two forest bird species that migrate outside New Zealand. They spend the winter 4,600km further north, mainly in the Solomon Islands. As well as their major annual migrations, the other distinctive feature is that they are brood parasites – they lay their eggs in the nests of riroriro/grey warbler and let those birds raise their young!   

While generally we let the forest regenerate by itself, each year the conservation team does some planting to facilitate the establishment of species that would not otherwise come back into the sanctuary. This is a key part of our 500-year vision!

The sun is out, the puawānanga/clematis is blooming, and love is in the air -- amongst toutouwai, or North Island robins, that is.  

There's so much to see and do at the ecosanctuary in the heart of Wellington. Whether you’ve been 100 times or never there’s always something new to do and see.  

New Zealand’s only fully parasitic plant has been successfully germinated at the Lions Ōtari Native Plant Conservation Laboratory in Wellington. The milestone germination was of rare seeds gifted from Ngāti Rereahu in the first translocation to involve all six Greater Wellington iwi.

Taranaki Whānui iwi has officially declared Opau Urupā in Makara, Wellington as plastic- free, the first urupā (Māori cemetery) nationally to do so. 

They’re encouraging the community to use sustainable, plastic-free ways to commemorate loved ones instead of using plastic flowers.

Matariki has become a popular celebration of Māori culture, for all, across Aotearoa/New Zealand. Matariki is an important celebration to Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne as the sanctuary acknowledges the importance of Te Ao Māori through our commitment to Te Tiriti and our organizational values.

Click here to read more about how we're celebrating Matariki at Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne including events and activities for the whole whānau.

ZEALANDIA is proud to work with the Department of Conservation Takahē Recovery Programme which aims to boost takahē numbers living in their natural habitats, and for the species to be treasured as a national icon.

ZEALANDIA includes some incredible waterways as well forest ecosystems. We are excited to be embarking on a long-awaited effort to begin restoring the health of Roto Kawau, our lower reservoir.