Seeing Conservation in Wellington

by Maya Field 

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that conservation and Aotearoa go hand in hand. It feels like a uniquely Kiwi experience to have a strong hatred of possums, and a deep care for native flora and fauna. 

Despite being a hustling, bustling metropolis, Wellington is home to two attractions who both have missions of conservation: the Wellington Zoo, and Zealandia. The Zoo being just outside of Newtown, and Zealandia situated near Kelburn and Karori, it’s kind of special that Wellingtonians have close access to such special creatures. 

They both have their own styles and approaches, and they both offer different experiences to their customers. But ultimately, they both work towards a greener future, and they’re both great to visit on a random spare day. The question is, which should you go to? 

(Both, you should go to both)

Wellington Zoo is great if you’re close to the Newtown areas. You basically walk to the end of Newtown, and then you’re there. There’s free, on-street parking nearby, and the number 23 bus stops right outside. If you’re wanting to see animals from all over the world, and you don’t mind the occasional hordes of school-children (don’t go in the school holidays), then this is the place for you. 

If you like birds and walking in nature, Zealandia is the place for you. Despite being in-between Kelburn and Karori, you still feel like you’re in a total nature sanctuary. They have a free shuttle on Wakefield Street to take visitors there. There’s also limited free parking for you gas-guzzlers.

I asked the Zoo and Zealandia about their own approaches to conservation in Aotearoa. Even though they had different answers, the main concern of caring for animals and our natural world is shared between them. 

 ZOO:

What is the main conservation work that you do?

The Zoo has quite a few strands to our conservation work, from breeding endangered native animals like Whitaker’s Skinks for release, to sending money to conservation organisations in NZ and around the world who protect animals in the wild, to caring for injured native wildlife at our vet hospital Te Kōhanga. But I’d have to say the main conservation work we do is actually connecting people with animals and teaching them how to protect them. No matter how much effort we put into protecting animals, it won’t matter if other people don’t do it too. And the best way to get people to act for animals is to get them to care about them. So when they come to the Zoo and form real connections and care and love for the animals they see, and they learn about what they can do to help, that’s the biggest conservation work we do. 

What is the most pressing issue within conservation work at the moment? 

Politics are the biggest challenge. Our current government in Aotearoa [is enacting] multiple bills and policies which will have huge negative impacts on the environment, animals and biodiversity. For instance, the fast-track approvals bill, the replacement for the Resource Management Act, reinstating offshore oil and gas exploration, going backwards on decarbonisation of transport, to name a few. Worldwide, we are not doing enough to halt climate change which is a political issue. 

How can people support your work, and help with conservation in general? 

People can support the Zoo’s work by visiting and enjoying the Zoo! You can also donate at the Zoo or on our website. We are a charity so really appreciate any donations towards our work. 

To help with conservation in general, stay connected with political news and pay attention to how your representatives are making decisions that affect the environment. 

Two things you can do in your neighbourhood – join a local community environment group (there’s lots of predator trapping and planting groups around in Wellington) and if you have a cat, keep it safe and happy at home! It’s better for your cat and it protects wildlife like native birds and lizards. 

Are there any special events or new experiences that people should know about?  

Yes! We’ve just kicked off our Welcome Weekends, meaning that every weekend in May there are lowered entry prices to be more student and family friendly. Cheaper tickets will be released each Tuesday in May for the following weekend, so it’s the perfect time to head to the Zoo if you’re on a budget! 

We also have two new close encounters – Ring-Tailed Lemurs and Otters. These give you a chance to get up close and personal with the animals and learn about how you can make a difference for their wild populations. 10% of the ticket price of close encounters goes into our Partners in Conservation Fund which we use to fund field conservation projects like TRAFFIC, who fight the illegal wildlife trade, and Madagascar Fauna and Flora, who protect wild lemur populations in Madagascar.  

Finally, we have just welcomed a very special new resident, Fernando the Capybara! 

There’s always something exciting to see down at Te Nukuao!

ZEALANDIA’S ANSWERS

What is the main conservation work that you do?

Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne is the world’s first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary with a 500-year vision to return a Wellington valley’s forest and freshwater ecosystems as closely as possible to their pre-human state.

The unique flora and fauna in Aotearoa New Zealand evolved without the presence of mammalian predators. The arrival of early settlers saw the introduction of species such as rats, mustelids (stoats and weasels), possums, cats, goats and other mammals that our plants and wildlife were not equipped to defend themselves against. These mammals adapted to survive in their new environment quickly, unfortunately at the expense of the native and endemic species through predation, habitat destruction and competition for food sources.

The 8.6km fence that surrounds the sanctuary was the first of its kind in the world and prevents all kinds of mammalian predators from entering the 225-hectare sanctuary inside. The curved top hat stops climbing predators scaling the fence, the underground skirt prevents burrowing mammals, and the tightly-woven mesh is fine enough that most mammals can’t get through (the only exception to this is baby mice). The fence is also high enough (2.2 metres high) so that jumping animals can’t get over.

Keeping mammalian predators out provides a space for native and endemic plants and wildlife to thrive.

What is the most pressing issue within conservation work at the moment?

One of the most pressing issues we’re facing right now is controlling mouse populations. (For more info, read a recent article by Conservation Lead Ranger Ellen Irwin - Wouldn’t it be mice? Of Mice and Men in Aotearoa - quoted briefly below)

‘In areas where they are indigenous, mice play important roles in seed dispersal and as predator and prey. Elsewhere, however, they can have substantial impacts on economies (e.g., millions or even billions of dollars in crop losses) as well as negative impacts on human health through increased disease transmission of various pathogens and parasites.

[...]

While we are free of other introduced mammals, we do have a small population of mice. The animals are able to squeeze through the mesh as babies and are also possibly dropped in by native predators such as ruru/morepork. [...] The removal of mice—the final introduced mammal species still able to get inside the fence—will enable us to make even more space for rare and threatened taonga species to thrive.’

How can people support Zealandia's work, and help with conservation in general?

The best way to support Zealandia is through becoming a member. Membership not only supports conservation projects and research but also gives you access to some exclusive benefits such as free general admission entry to the sanctuary, discounts on tours, retail and at Rātā Café, and exclusive access to member-only news and events. Students get a special membership rate too! 

You can also help nature with some actions at home, or by volunteering with a local conservation group. Predator Free Wellington has a list of community groups you can get involved with. You could even volunteer at Zealandia!

Are there any special events or new experiences at Zealandia that people should know about? 

If you want to learn more about the Zealandia fence and the epic project we’re undertaking to refurbish it, come along to our next Conservation Kōrero on the 27^th May.

Zealandia also offers a range of tours to explore the sanctuary during the day and even by night. There are also seasonal tours, including the current Zealandia at Dawn walks, which gives visitors access to the sanctuary before it opens to the public to hear the dawn chorus welcome the day. Sip hot kawakawa tea in the valley as you watch the sun rise and take in the peaceful surroundings There’s also an option to add on breakfast at the end of the tour.

(Answers shortened for brevity)