Wellington Zoo Te Nukuao

Wellington Zoo Te Nukuao Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo is New Zealand’s first Zoo, and Wellington’s oldest conservation organisation, saving wildlife and wild places since 1906.
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Adult: $26/Ch: $14

Happy World Giraffe Day! 🦒The tallest talks of the town, Zahara, Zuri, Sunny, and Nia, are at the very heart and soul of...
20/06/2026

Happy World Giraffe Day! 🦒

The tallest talks of the town, Zahara, Zuri, Sunny, and Nia, are at the very heart and soul of Te Nukuao 💛

Sadly, in the wild, Giraffe numbers have decreased by nearly 30%. Through your support from entry tickets and Close Encounters, we are proud to work with our partners, Giraffe Conservation Foundation, to help protect Giraffe populations across 21 countries in Africa.

Come along and visit our beautiful herd to learn more about them and help us to be kaitiaki for Giraffes, both near and far! 🌍

Here's to these gentle, silly, and wonderful animals who make every visit to the Zoo feel so special.

📸 Keeper Hannah, Keeper Ash and Keeper Becs

18/06/2026

✨Baby Chimp Name Reveal!✨

Introducing.....

☀️ Kasana ☀️

The name that thousands of you chose for our Baby Chimp is a name from Central Uganda meaning “Very gentle sunshine.”

For a Baby Chimp born on the first ever Jane Goodall Day, over Easter, and in the year of our 120th birthday, we definitely think this is very fitting; she brings us a ray of light in the form of new life, hope, and a reminder of why we do the conservation mahi we do.

Thank you all for putting in your two cents and being a part of the naming process with us 💛

📸 Volunteer Kate

It’s Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu National Volunteer Week! From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank our 64 volunteers who...
15/06/2026

It’s Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu National Volunteer Week!

From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank our 64 volunteers who donate their time and effort to the Zoo and don’t mind getting their hands dirty for a good cause 🌱

Here are some words from two of our mīharo vollies about why they choose to volunteer:

“I choose to volunteer at the Zoo because I would love to work with animals...but more so I believe we have an obligation to look after and help inform people about the animals while also helping them to see the best way they can do their part to protect these amazing creatures and never take them for granted.”

“[Being a vollie] gives me a sense of purpose to my life. I was a walking postie for almost 12 years, but was made redundant over a year ago now. This has made a bit of a hole in my life and I have discovered how difficult it is to get a job these days. So now, as a volunteer, I have filled that hole somewhat and feel more useful than I did before...The zoo is such a lively, vibrant and extremely interesting place to be. Not just because of the animals, but also because of the friendly, dynamic people who work there!”

It is so wonderful to be able to connect with people who live their values and share our goal of looking after te taiao. A huge thank you to our vollies for everything you do - your constant positivity, empathy, and enthusiasm helps to keep Te Nukuao ticking in so many ways.

Ka pai tau mahi and arohanui 💖

Haere mai Meg! Dr. Meg Rutledge has officially joined us as the new Chief Executive of Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo. We ro...
15/06/2026

Haere mai Meg!

Dr. Meg Rutledge has officially joined us as the new Chief Executive of Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo.

We rolled out the welcome mat for Meg this morning as she joined us for a powhiri and the unveiling of Te Manawaora, our mauri stone, the living heart of Te Nukuao Tūroa o Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington Zoo.

Meg has over 15 years of conservation leadership across the United States and New Zealand, and has recently led a USA-based charitable organisation that conserves land and waters for future generations. She has held senior national leadership roles with the Department of Conservation, and served as the President of the New Zealand Zoo and Aquarium Association.

She embodies our kaupapa, Me Tiaki, Kia Ora! We must look after the environment so all life will flourish, in all that she does.

We can’t wait to witness her incredible advocacy and passion for animals firsthand.

Tohaina ō painga ki te ao - Share your gifts with the world.

12/06/2026

As her very last week as Chief Executive comes to a close, here are some quickfire questions with Karen Fifield to celebrate 20 years at Te Nukauo Wellington Zoo!

We want to extend our gratitude to Karen, for her tenacity, her vibrant spirit and her unwavering passion for people and animals.

Alongside her Chief Executive role, Karen has also been the President of the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia, and is currently the Immediate Past-President of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).

Anyone who knows her well knows that the word ‘retirement’ is strictly banned – she is simply off on a new path and will continue her lifelong journey of advocating for animals.

Karen has written an article to reflect on the last 20 years and her experience at the Zoo; click the link below to read it!

https://www.wellingtonzoo.com/news/a-look-back-on-20-years-leading-te-nukuao-wellington-zoo

Ngā mihi Karen 💜 It’s not goodbye, it’s just see you later for your next adventure 🌍

📸 Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo Team and Photographer Sebastian Blair

Conservation

Help us name the Baby Chimp! 🐵We need your help choosing one of the 4 name options for our newest Troop member at the li...
10/06/2026

Help us name the Baby Chimp! 🐵

We need your help choosing one of the 4 name options for our newest Troop member at the link below:

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=B62H8XBPcU2agN-wGRV4rsK6_CGx2rxNrYOBM-C5EjdUODM2MFBINThHNE1HVkVLWTlIU0c3WFJLUi4u

Baby Chimp was born over Easter weekend, on the first ever annual Jane Goodall Day, and in the same month as the Zoo’s 120th birthday, so she certainly knows how to make a splash!

Names are an important way of showing where the animals at Te Nukuao whakapapa from. We worked with our conservation partner, Fauna & Flora Liberia Programme, and others to narrow her name down to four options, whose origins and meanings would reflect our littlest Chimpanzee the best.

Head to the poll above to vote for the name you think is the most fitting! 🔗

P.S - When you vote, you can also go in the draw to win a Zoo Crew membership so you can visit Baby Chimp as much as you like and watch her grow up 🥹 Watching her grow stronger and bigger each day is a magnificent experience that we want to share.

You have until Friday 19th June to place your vote. We can’t wait to find out what her name is 💛


📸 Photographer Glenn Tocher, Keeper Anya and Primates Team

Can you hear the bells? 🔔 (Over the sound of Gibbons singing and Lions roaring?) A huge congratulations to Ayla and Rya...
08/06/2026

Can you hear the bells? 🔔 (Over the sound of Gibbons singing and Lions roaring?)

A huge congratulations to Ayla and Ryan, who celebrated their beautiful wedding in the wildest of ways here at Te Nukauo last year!

If you’d rather have a Flower Giraffe than a Flower Girl, or fancy a Best Lemur to go alongside your Best Man, don’t forget you can book out the Zoo and share your special day with some of the earth’s most special creatures 💞

Get in contact with our Venues team at https://www.wellingtonzoo.com/venues to learn more!

Happy Meerkat Monday everyone! Slay the day🐾 📸 Keeper Anya
08/06/2026

Happy Meerkat Monday everyone! Slay the day🐾

📸 Keeper Anya

Address

200 Daniell Street, Newtown
Wellington
6021

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5pm
Friday 9:30am - 5pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm
Sunday 9:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+6443816755

Website

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