Forest & Bird’s Wellington branches have a proud history of protecting and restoring nature in and around the capital. Jim Lynch’s work with the Wellington branch initiated the Zealandia fenced sanctuary and now flocks of kaka can be seen roaming the city. The Lower Hutt branch played a major role in restoring Matiu/Somes Island, an important refuge in the middle of Wellington Harbour for little penguins, kakariki, tuatara, and giant weta, among others. Forest & Bird has a lodge on the island, providing opportunities to see the penguins come and go as well as spotting some of the nocturnal wildlife.
Today the Wellington branch is leading the Places for Penguins project to provide safe places for little penguins (kororā) to breed around the city’s coast. Our Hutt Valley branches are providing corridors for native species across the valley and restoring bush and freshwater sites. If you’re based in the Kapiti or Mana areas, you can help out at Pauatahanui Wildlife Reserve where restoration has allowed the reintroduction of the rare and secretive fernbird. The Wairarapa branch has been restoring Fensham’s Reserve, a 48 ha area of wetland and bush, containing trees up to 700 years old.
