Business Central December 2021

4 | SUSTAINABILITY Zealandia Sanctuary Pioneering sanctuary leading the way T T Richard Loader There is now an abundance of life in and around the sanctuary such as the endangered Kaka. Photo: Janice McKenn “We’re demonstrating that conservation can happen in very urban environments, that we can restore ecosystems and we can restore the biodiversity. As David Attenborough has pointed out, without biodiversity our ecosystems start to collapse.” N estled between Wellington’s CBD and the leafy suburb of Karori lies a 225-hectare oasis of fauna and flora, native and endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand, and it is shining a light on how biodiversity and natural ecosystems can be restored in a highly urban environment. Managed by the Karori Sanctuary Trust, which was established in 1995 with the purpose of establishing a sanctuary for native wildlife, Zealandia is built in the area of Wellington’s original water supply, with two historic dams in the sanctuary valley. CEO Paul Atkins says Zealandia is about rad- ically transforming the health of our natural world, the way people value nature and their preparedness to live more kindly with nature. “We’re also trying to transform the way we look at doing that sustainably. To show that it’s possible to do these things in a sustainable way. We’re demonstrating that conservation can happen in very urban environments, that we can restore ecosystems and we can restore the biodiversity. As David Attenbor- ough has pointed out, without biodiversity our ecosystems start to collapse.” The building of an 8.6km entirely mammal proof fence was completed in 1999, and marks the boundary of the sanctuary. In the very early 2000s the removal and eradication of all mammalian predators inside the fence was completed, enabling the rein- troduction of native and endemic fauna and flora that would have been in that area in its prehuman state. “There are limits on that goal,” says Paul. “A number of species are already extinct but also it is very hard to know exactly what that pre-human state would have looked like. But we’ve brought back all sorts of species — not only birds but tuatara, giant weta, spotted skinks and some amazing flora. “We now have over forty species of native birds, and hundreds of plant species. The most recent flora was a very rare parasitic plant called pua o te reinga – or flower of the underworld, commonly known as Wood Rose.” Increasingly demonstrating what amazing things can be achieved if the conditions are right, there is now an abundance of life in and around the sanctuary that Paul says has taken the City quite by surprise with the richness of life and bird song spilling out. “In 2015 we celebrated our first twenty years of the Trust’s establishment and looked forward another twenty years to 2035. “Calling it ‘Living with Nature’, we evolved a strategy that fundamentally looks out and asks the question — ‘What does it mean for the city, the country and the world to be able to create this amazing, increasing biodiver- sity?’ That has been a very significant part of our endeavour over the last five to six years. “It’s enabling people to learn from what we’ve been doing, enabling them to do it in their own backyards, which could well be in Europe, North America, the Middle East, all over.” A few years ago Zealandia won the Restor- ing Nature category in the annual Sustainable Business Awards. Paul says that in most people’s mind the restoration of nature is Zealandia’s core business but increasingly the core business has embraced views on climate, sustainabili- ty, social change, social engagement and the community — and walking the talk in all those areas. With that broader scope Zealandia entered this year’s Sustainable Business Awards in the Climate Action Innovation category and has been selected as a finalist. “These awards are really important for the country as well as individual organisations. Just as we celebrate sports and the arts, it is really important that we recognise some of the extraordinary conservation work that is going on. “It’s not just about gaining the credit for what we have done, others are able to see that we are in this space doing good things and that may well motivate them to do some- thing as well.” The Trust’s official vision is to be a world- class conservation site portraying Aotearoa’s natural heritage, capturing people’s imagina- tion, understanding and commitment. “We want to be a significant part of how our whole country is able to restore the balance of the natural world and its biodiversity, and we want to encourage everyone else to be part of this also.” Plenty to see. Photo: Judi Lapsley Miller Photo: Lynn Freeman