Dawes Family in New Zealand

Zealandia: The Opening

We have been members of the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary for many years, and in the last year they have been making some massive changes. Not only have they developed the sanctuary itself incredibly, but they have been working on a brand new building to welcome guests, which includes a gift shop, a cafe and an interactive new exhibition. As members we were privileged to be invited to a members only opening day for Zealandia.

On first sight it’s quite amazing, the old cabin they had in place to welcome guests was now gone and the views were straight into the wonderland of the sanctuary behind that big old predator proof fence. Built into the hillside the building is not at all obtrusive, in fact its quite interesting, modern and sleek.  

Inside you are greeted with everything new, people were milling around looking at new structures, there was an excitement in the air. The huge wall of pure window filled the building with massive light. We grabbed our tickets to go into the exhibition and then had a quick look around the new shop, all very nice and some great new items. Although very very modern – felt more like walking round a museum that a shop. Most things had crazy ‘tourist’ price tag on them, but we at least got some ideas for Christmas!

We enetered the exhibition unsure of what to expect, first thing to hit us was the massive screen that filled the whole room, it was showing a fantastic movie of how creatures we see today first came to New Zealand and how settlers setup here in Wellington and how the Sanctuary was developed. All very interesting, although made you feel really guilty at what we have inflicted not only upon the land but on the creatures who live here!

Split over two floors there is heaps to read and do, of course a thing to do another time is to come and read things properly when there isn’t a crazy excited 6 year old plunging around the place!

Afterwards we headed to the bright and lovely cafe which has indoor, covered outdoor and open outdoor seating overlooking the sanctuary. We had a lovely lunch and were very happy indeed. People chatted to each other about what they thought and it was nice to have been part of something so very special. We appreciated as members being made to feel special and that the money we had spent all those years was in fact going towards a very good cause.

We can honestly say that although it is on a much smaller scale, we feel it is now in standing with the leagues of  Te Papa and could develop massively into a huge tourist attraction. It was always something to be proud of but we think now it has new branding and a new look its going to be huge, and rightly so. We are of course loving the new changes, but a little worried at the fact our little idilic quiet hideaway could be now full of tourists!!