Zealandia: The Karori Sanctuary

After the Mount Victoria Lookout VJ and Jaiyden dropped Neema and I off at Zealandia: The Karori Sanctuary. In 1995 a fence was erected to create a sanctuary where bush and wildlife native to New Zealand could life and grow without being disturbed or harms by the pests that were introduced by the Europeans. Neema and I did a 45-minute guided tour through the park and then walked through the indoor exhibition. The Exhibition turns the clock back 1,000 years to life in New Zealand before humans arrived. It takes you through a journey of time before humans, followed by centuries of catastrophic loss to present-day where many are working to restore the NZ bush and wildlife to what is once was.

River that runs through the Sanctuary after a dam was created.

The Wellington Fault - which attributes to the unique
landscape formations of the city - begins here.

The hills of native NZ bush that has been replanted
and protected within the fences of the Sanctuary.

Our tour guide talked about the symbols that are commonly seen to represent New Zealand: the Koru, the Silver Fern, and the Kiwi. Kiwi's are nocturnal - I did have a chance to see them at the Wellington Zoo; however, I was unable to take a picture because of the layout of the exhibit.

The Koru - the Maori name given to a new
unfurling frond and symbolizes new life,
growth, strength, and peace. It is incorporated
into Maori carvings and tattoos. 

The Silver Fern - an image to which all New Zealanders
relate and is a powerful and emotional symbol of inspiration
at times when it matters.

The leaves are dark green on the upper side and silver
on the bottom. The silver glows brightly in the moonlight
and serve as excellent track markers in the NZ forest
for the Maori.

The weta is a large wingless insect that is
native to NZ. The Sanctuary has created a
"Weta Hotel" for visitors to see the insect.

One Weta was currently checked in.
The Weta will get up in its prickly hind legs to
intimidate its prey.

 Our tour was filled with the beautiful sounds of New Zealand's native birds.

South Island Takahe 

North Island Kaka
It is "polite" to quickly grab food out of the feeder
and then close it before beginning to eat.

The Sanctuary created feeding stations for the Kaka.
The birds are taught by their mothers to sit on the lever which
is triggered only by the weight of the Kaka - all other birds are
too light - and the lid will lift for the Kaka to grab food.

The Tui has a beautiful song that it sings - one that
I was even able to recognize while at Camp Wakarara this past week!

View of the Sanctuary from the top of the dam