Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne

Bug of the Year 2025 goes to… the velvet worm! 🎉🐛 Inspired by the world-renowned Bird of the Year competition, Bug of the Year is getting popular: the competition generated nearly 10,000 votes this year! The velvet worm won with 2,652 votes, just 110 points ahead of the runner-up. Our campaign was sparked by a very special Zealandia Member: Fred. On his fourth birthday, Fred wrote us a letter—signed by all his friends—telling us how much he loves velvet worms and asking us to help more people learn about them. So we did! Our post backing ngāokeoke became one of our most popular Instagram posts, and the video telling Fred's story reached thousands across Instagram and TikTok. One person said they didn't know velvet worms existed and will now do a deep dive, and others have joined Fred and us in voting for this weird and wonderful creature. Despite their fascinating biology and vital role in the ecosystem, bugs are often overlooked. So we’re thrilled that more people now know about one of Aotearoa’s most unusual invertebrates—one that might be hiding in the forest floor or garden near you. Photo by C_Knox_southern_scales via iNaturalist https://lnkd.in/gzrC7QfA

There's plenty of fish in the sea (and freshwater), but you should totally vote for inanga! Often overlooked and underappreciated, inanga are the smallest whitebait and they're also completely see-through! So even if they are in a stream nearby, you have to look really hard to spot them 👀 Besides introduced predators like trout, pollution, and loss of habitat, inanga face the threat of overconsumption because whitebait are a popular edible fish. While DOC has enforced regulations for improved whitebait management and sustainable fishing practices, inanga are still declining and considered 'At Risk'. It's easy to vote for a candidate we already know and love very well, but we'd like to encourage you to get to know new species and give them some love, too. Inanga are currently trailing behind some famous fish in the 11th place. Let's make them popular and vote inanga for Fish of the Year until 16 March at https://lnkd.in/gU_wmG3c Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust https://lnkd.in/gMKyQmBM File photo supplied Sebastian Pena Lambarri on Unsplash

Inanga are not only a special native species to Aotearoa New Zealand but they are also very special to us at Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne. As part of Kia Mouriora te Kaiwharawhara Sanctuary to Sea, we have been working to improve the health of the Kaiwharawhara stream, including near its open estuary which is used by migratory ika/fish like inanga. Inanga are considered 'At Risk' because of the loss of spawning habitat through drainage of important wetland areas, increase in introduced fish populations leading to predation and competition for resources, and urban infrastructure creating migration barriers such as weirs and culverts. Thanks to collective efforts over the last few years, including clean-ups, weeding, planting, and advocacy, a lot more inanga eggs have been spotted in the area recently, a promising sign that we’re making a real difference! Vote inanga for Fish of the Year 2025 until 16 March and help us spread the word about this incredible native species 🏆 https://lnkd.in/gU_wmG3c Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust Photo by Emily Roberts via iNaturalist

Conservation takes a community, and we're so fortunate to have such a supportive one around Zealandia 💚 From people keeping their cats inside, trapping, and not feeding birds to signing up as members and donating to protect our wildlife: it’s incredible to see so many people rallying behind our kaupapa. A perfect example? A Karori couple recently commissioned a fine arts student Māta Geiringer for a stunning Zealandia-inspired mural for their garage door. They wanted to celebrate the sanctuary and the native birds we’re all working so hard to protect. Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne would not be here without the support we continue to receive over the years. Ngā mihi to everyone who’s playing a part in making Pōneke a place where wildlife can thrive. https://lnkd.in/g8U6TPk7

Did you know the Zealandia fence was the first of its kind in the world? Now 25 years old, when the fence was originally being designed, none that existed proved suitable for Zealandia's needs, so we decided to design our own. It was tested against nearly 200 (!) animals, including rats, mice, cats, stoats, possums, weasels and ferrets, and their capabilities such as jumping, climbing, digging and their ability to pass through different size gaps. This design along with the research, testing and more than two decades' worth of knowledge is in public access, which means that anyone can use them to build their own fence to protect native wildlife. Now, 25 years later, we are going to break the mould again with a refurbishment project: we're in the early stages of planning the replacement of a small section of the fence and using this to decide the future of our fence. And we need your help! Don't sit on the fence, donate now https://lnkd.in/g5gMhEmX

The author of the new incredible book, Wild Wellington Ngā Taonga Taiao, is coming to Zealandia for one evening only! Join us to learn more about this fabulous guide to the incredible wildlife of the Wellington region, and Zealandia’s place in it, in a kōrero with the author himself. You'll even get the opportunity to get your own copy of the book signed! To make this event extra special, you have the option to join an exclusive after-hours tour of the sanctuary. This tour will dive into stories of translocations and restorations that have built this sanctuary into the Wellington icon it is today and also take you to the best spot to experience the dusk chorus. Get your tickets https://lnkd.in/dc2uMR2U

25 years ago, Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne started with a simple word: Imagine. A sanctuary in the heart of a city. A community united to protect native wildlife. A fence that changed everything. Here are some stats behind this groundbreaking project: 🛠️The first of its kind in the world 🛠️ 2.2m tall (to stop jumping mammals) 🛠️ 5 months to build 🛠️ 8.6km long 🛠️ 70 volunteers now share the task of regularly checking the fence 🛠️ 229 tonnes of mesh 🛠️ 15,000 bolts, screws, and washers Now, birdsong fills Wellington, but the work isn’t over. As we celebrate 25 years of success, we’re looking ahead. To ensure another generation of protection for Aotearoa’s wildlife, the fence needs some care and attention. This gives us the chance to reimagine the future of the fence but we need your help to do this. Your support will help us take this important step forward. Together, we can continue to protect what makes New Zealand so special. Don't sit on the fence, donate now: https://lnkd.in/g5gMhEmX Photo by Hayley May

Where do you see yourself in 500 years? While we won't live that long, we hope that future generations will find themselves in a place that looks pretty much just like it used to look before humans arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand. Help us on this mission by donating or becoming a Zealandia Member https://lnkd.in/gaA37BCS  Totara by Paul Stewart on flickr Kahikatea by Katja Schulz on flickr

Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne isn’t just a sanctuary—it’s a living laboratory helping to answer questions across a range of scientific fields. From reintroducing native species to exploring the relationship between people and nature to researching and embracing mātauranga Māori methods, the women at Zealandia are driving science forward. Our interns, staff, volunteers, and researchers are working on a range of topics this year including: 🤖 Using AI to identify kākā for monitoring purposes 🐟 Translocating toitoi for the third time using traditional mātauranga Māori methods 🌲 Exploring veteranisation techniques on the introduced pine trees to benefit native species And there’s no sign of slowing down! We're so incredibly proud of them and the difference they're making both in Aotearoa New Zealand and on the world stage. If you'd like to join the mahi, find out how you can get involved https://lnkd.in/gaA37BCS Danielle Shanahan Jo Ledington Kari Beaven Ellen Irwin Julie Whitburn Tia Button Piata Hohaia #WomenInSTEM #WomenInSTEMDay Ruru/morepork photo by Kevin Yonando

You might have noticed a lot of kākā all over Wellington City with quite a few nesting outside of Zealandia in areas such as the Ōtari-Wilton's Bush. In case you didn't know, this has only become the case in recent years. Before Zealandia was established and the native species were translocated here, kākā were extinct from this area. Some people even considered our dream of creating a sanctuary in the heart of Wellington crazy! But thanks to the community that came together to support the sanctuary and make Wellington a safe space for wildlife, native bird species are on the rise in Wellington. But the job isn't done. There are a couple of ways you can continue to help. You can continue supporting Zealandia to provide a safe home for rare native species by donating to our latest appeal. Don't sit on the fence, donate now https://lnkd.in/g5gMhEmX You can continue making Wellington a safe space for wildlife to venture into the city and our suburbs by taking action for nature at home. Find out what you can do here: https://lnkd.in/gCzMcm6h Photo by Tony Stoddard