Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne

Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne is a groundbreaking 225-hectare urban ecosanctuary in Wellington, New Zealand, dedicated to restoring the region’s pre-human biodiversity. Established in 1999, it is the world’s first fully fenced urban sanctuary, designed to exclude invasive mammalian predators and allow native flora and fauna to thrive. Zealandia has successfully reintroduced over 20 native species, including the little spotted kiwi, tuatara, and hihi, some of which had been absent from mainland New Zealand for over a century. The sanctuary also serves as a hub for conservation education, research, and community engagement, inspiring similar projects across the country. Visitors can explore more than 30 kilometers of walking tracks and participate in guided day or night tours to experience New Zealand’s unique wildlife in a regenerating forest environment.

Helen Clark took on the role of Patron in 2018, succeeding Sir Michael Hardie-Boys, and has supported the sanctuary's 500-year restoration vision and native species reintroduction.