We’re proud to be involved in our community - inspiring conservation based learning and supporting projects in Tāmaki Makaurau that establish safe habitats for native wildlife to thrive.

We achieve this through our dedicated plant and animal pest control in Aotearoa and the Pacific, our monitoring and restoration work, our vital education and outreach programmes that inspire the next generation to care for native wildlife, and on site at Auckland Zoo where we encourage Aucklanders of all ages to protect the taonga on their doorstep.

Learn more about what we do – and how you can join in!

Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao

Would you like to see an abundance of native wildlife and plants right on your doorstep? Visit the Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao website to join a local group working to improve biodiversity in your community or take action in your backyard. Get involved in hands-on activities that promote and restore natural ecosystems such as weeding, planting and learning how to humanely trap introduced pest species.

Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao is the collaborative efforts of over a dozen environmental community groups and organisations, including Forest and Bird and Auckland Zoo, working together with the vision of an ecologically connected urban landscape and engaged communities that provide healthy habitats where native wildlife can thrive. This Charitable Trust operates in the inner-west area of Tāmaki Makaurau.

Pest Management

Our Pest Management Co-ordinator Siȃn Buley, was interviewed by Ponsonby News to discuss our pest control efforts both at Auckland Zoo and in our local community. 

"Auckland is known to be one of the most progressive zoos, and one of the few with a full time pest management role. The team also recently employed a second staff member to enable their expertise to have an impact outside the fence."

"We do have an amazing zoo right at our back door, whose dedicated staff work hard to create realistic habitats for its animals, and protect native wildlife. The zoo’s pest management programme concentrates quite intensively on rats. They need to be controlled to very low levels due to predation and disease risk and competition for animal food." - John Elliott. 

You can read the full Ponsonby News article here.

The skills our field conservation and pest control teams enact for wildlife go beyond Aotearoa shores, they’re working with our South Pacific community to save Samoa’s national bird, the manumea. Forming part of our wider field conservation strategy, this three year project in partnership with the Samoa Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Samoa Conservation Society was created to assist Samoa in their goal to boost the populations of their native reptiles, plants, birds and save their national bird - the critically endangered manumea. One of the ways we are doing this is by helping to control the rampant rat population that predates on these vulnerable bird species.

Learn more by watching our three-part series with Auckland Zoo Pest Management Co-ordinator Siȃn as she arrives in Upolu, Samoa to share her expertise where it counts, in Malololelei reserve. 

Responsible Bird Ownership

It’s important that our communities are aware of the impacts of invasive pest bird species on the native manu in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. These impacts can include competing with native birds for kai, taking valuable nesting places and being vectors for wildlife diseases and human pathogens.

At Auckland Zoo, our expert animal experiences team engage and educate our Zoo visitors at our free Flight School experience each day. This experience inspires awe and delight as tamariki and adults alike can learn about the special adaptations of a variety of birds, including Australian galah.

Galah are an amazing species and perform an important role in their native habitat of Australia, yet they don’t belong in the wild spaces of New Zealand. In Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland they are classified as a pest species due to their impact on wildlife as outlined in the Auckland Regional Pest Management Plan 2020-2030.

Our Zoo team are experienced in bird training and animal husbandry techniques which enables them to give the very best care to birds like galah. These intelligent birds can appear to make a great family pet, but prove challenging to provide the right care for. This is why advocating for responsible pet ownership is so important and is one of the key messages in our Flight School experience.   

Learn more about Flight School and how we advocate for wildlife here.

Te Wao Nui

Our New Zealand precinct, Te Wao Nui is home to precious native species such as the endangered kea, orange-fronted kākāriki, kererū (wood pigeon), tĪeke (saddleback) and kākā. In The Night section you can find ruru (morepork) and New Zealand's national icon, the kiwi.

Learn more about these endemic animals and what makes them so special by visiting our dedicated animal pages below.