Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo Local Conservation Grants

Saving Wellington and the Chatham Islands’ Wildlife and Wild Places

Conservation is at the heart of everything we do at Wellington Zoo. Thanks to the support of our community and Zoo visitors that contribute to the Wellington Zoo Partners in Conservation Fund, we are offering local conservation grants. These grants will provide funding for projects or programmes with clear community conservation value for native wildlife and wild places. We want to support projects in our wider community and invite applications from the Greater Wellington Region and the Chatham Islands (part of our local Rongotai electorate).

Grants will be awarded up to a maximum of $5,000 and most grants will be between $1,500 - $3,000.

The deadline for applications is end of day Sunday 25 August 2024.

Please apply electronically using the application form below. Completed forms should be emailed to: conservation@wellingtonzoo.com

Local Conservation Grant Recipients 2023/2024

Designing artificial reefs to mitigate ecological impacts, support subtidal rocky reef habitat, and achieve ecological restoration objectives in Wellington Harbour (Finn Gallagher, MSc student Victoria University of Wellington)

This project has direct conservation links as artificial reefs are being built in Wellington harbour and Finn’s findings could directly influence their use as a restoration technique. The funding will cover fieldwork costs associated with research into the effectiveness of artificial reefs as a restoration technique.

GAP Sanctuary rat trap buffer zone (Chatham Islands Taiko Trust)

To purchase ten self-resetting AT220 possum & rat traps to protect a breeding area for tītī and albatross. This area, if protected, may serve as a second breeding site for taiko in the future. 

Rare plant nursery, mistletoe (Ngā Manu Nature Reserve)

Purchase a grow tunnel to grow indigenous mistletoe which can be a source for restoration translocations. The team is highly experienced and one of these species is critically endangered.  

Safeguarding Pekapeka (Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre)

To purchase four bat detectors, a tent, 16 torches and other equipment for bat surveys with children as part of an education program at Pūkaha.  

Timms traps for Long Gully Bush Reserve (Wellington Natural Heritage Trust)

To purchase 25 Timms traps to replace existing failing traps to protect Long Gully Bush from possums. This is a Significant Natural Area and is home to native plants as well as providing habitat for forest species.  

General Predator Free Northland work (Predator Free Northland)

To cover some costs associated with predator trapping work for this community group (servicing traps, high-vis vests, stencils etc.). The group is dedicated and has made good progress in their work.