It’s Conservation Week Te Wiki Tiati Ao Tūroa and we’re kicking off to a great start with the hatch of six pāteke ducklings!

Pāteke are New Zealand’s rarest waterfowl and their conservation status is currently ‘at risk’, though we’re helping to boost their numbers each year. As bird keeper Devon says, we’re proud to be part of a breed and release programme with the Department of Conservation. Once these ducklings are 8-weeks-old they’ll be heading for Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust in Christchurch to get them used to 'wild conditions' where they can be monitored before their release into the wild.

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Our pāteke whānau has grown!

Meet bird keeper Devon as she takes you into The Forest aviary to meet our newest ducklings.

The theme for Conservation Week this year is ‘nature needs you’ and that couldn’t be truer than the work that you, our zoo friends and visitors, help us to achieve each year on behalf of Aotearoa’s wildlife in need.

We have fun and educational activations on all week for the whole whānau! Learn more on our Conservation Week page.