Preserving natural heritage big focus for Zealandia boss

Former Downstage Theatre boss is settling into her new role as chief executive of Zealandia. She has worked for most of her life in the theatre, circus, museums, art galleries and festivals in a career that has taken her from remote mining towns and small

What’s your favourite thing about Zealandia? Well, I’m a city gal. I live right in the centre of Wellington. So Rata Cafe rates very highly with me. Not just because it has good food and great coffee, but the outlook from the deck out over the historic area to the natural bush is one of the best views in the region. Especially when the kereru decide to do display flights over the lower reservoir. Since prices were cut, visitor numbers and memberships are up at Zealandia – has this upswing reinvigorated management and staff? The visitor numbers and membership increases show just how well-loved the sanctuary is. It’s also recognition and celebration of the conservation work being done and the restoration of our natural flora and fauna. Zealandia has had many successes this season, including bumper breeding from three of our native bird species: hihi, kaka and kakariki. We recently released seven juvenile tuatara into the sanctuary and over 200 people came to meet our ambassador tuatara. So yes, the staff and volunteers are buzzing. What are the main conservation challenges facing Wellington over the next 20 years and how will Zealandia’s 500-year vision play into that? Urbanisation is the biggest challenge to any city, but our natural heritage is a big part of why people choose to live here. Zealandia has partnerships What’s your favourite Wellington spot and why? What’s on your iPod at the moment? What books are you currently reading? I have just finished Boy, Lost by Kristina Olsson, and The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman. Both of these books encapsulate When you first moved to New Zealand, you worked as a rousie with a shearing gang in Carterton – what did that teach you about the Kiwi way of life? Which four famous people, dead or alive, would you like to have round for dinner, and why?

What would you serve them? And to drink? It depends on the season. Right now, it would be a nice rose, but I do love kawakawa fire tea as well.

with other nature organisations such as Wellington Zoo, Pukaha Mt Bruce, Staglands, and Matiu-Somes as part of a region-wide network called Nature Connections. We are all deeply committed to ensuring people in this area can enjoy our natural heritage...